P. Seksik et al., Successful treatment with lamivudine in two patients with severe reactivation of hepatitis B virus infection after withdrawal of chemotherapy, GASTRO CL B, 24(6-7), 2000, pp. 671-674
Reactivation of chronic infection is a serious complication during and espe
cially after the withdrawal of cancer chemotherapy in hepatitis B virus car
riers. Mortality is high, rang,ng From 4 to 20%. We report two cases of sev
ere reactivation, after withdrawal of chemotherapy for chronic lymphocytic
leukemia in one case and for a bladder tumor in the other. Recovery occurre
d with lamivudine therapy Morbidity and mortality are common in these cases
, especially when intensive chemotherapy and/or chronic hepatitis and/or pr
ecore mutants viruses are involved. Although lamivudine seems to be effecti
ve in these cases, prophylactic use has not been clearly defined and must b
e evaluated.