Transient loss of T-cell reactivity in a patient with hepatitis C virus reinfection

Citation
U. Duesberg et al., Transient loss of T-cell reactivity in a patient with hepatitis C virus reinfection, DIGESTION, 64(1), 2001, pp. 66-70
Citations number
26
Categorie Soggetti
Gastroenerology and Hepatology","da verificare
Journal title
DIGESTION
ISSN journal
00122823 → ACNP
Volume
64
Issue
1
Year of publication
2001
Pages
66 - 70
Database
ISI
SICI code
0012-2823(2001)64:1<66:TLOTRI>2.0.ZU;2-I
Abstract
Background/Aims: Self-limited acute hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection with spontaneous recovery is only rarely observed in clinical practice. All exis ting studies correlate strong cellular immune responses to the recovery fro m HCV infection. Case Report: Here, we present a 49-year-old haemophiliac, who had successfully recovered from an acute hepatitis, which was classifie d retrospectively as HCV infection based on his antibody profiles. This pat ient was reinfected with HCV 18 years later from an exogenous source, and s uccessfully recovered from this reinfection within 2 months. After his firs t hepatitis the patient displayed strong cellular responses against recombi nant HCV proteins. During reinfection, T-cell proliferation was markedly re duced, while HCV antibody titres increased. However, E2 antibodies were con sistently not detectable. T-cell proliferation returned to the pre-reinfect ion level only several months after loss of viraemia. Discussion: Our obser vations resulted in the unexpected finding that our patient cleared HCV rei nfection despite an apparent loss of his pre-existing T-cell reactivity in the peripheral blood. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.