Background: Rituximab has provided a revolutionary contribution to the treatment of B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL). A high prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been described in B-cell NHL patients. Cases of liver dysfunction in HCV-positive patients have been reported with rituximab-containing regimens. Aim: to evaluate the liver-related effects of rituximab-containing regimens on HCV-positive CD20-positive B-cell NHL patients. Patients and methods: Retrospective analysis of 104 consecutive patients. HCV status was determined, and development of hepatitis flares analysed. Results: Nine patients (8.6%) were HCV-positive. No correlation was shown between viral load and alanine transaminase levels. Three of the 9 HCV-positive, and none of the 95 HCV-negative developed hepatitis flares (p < 0.001), At the 12-month follow-up hepatitis flare patients were alive and in remission for their haematological disease and no hepatitis flares, liver-related death had developed. Conclusions: HCV-positive status may represent a risk factor for the development of hepatic flares in B-cell NHL patients receiving rituximab-containing regimens. Despite the increase in liver function tests, there were no major clinical events. (C) 2010 Editrice Gastroenterologica Italiana S.r.l. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
HCV-positive status and hepatitis flares in patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma treated with rituximab-containing regimens / Massimo, Marignani; Manuela, Mangone; M., Christina Cox; Stefano, Angeletti; Barbara, Veggia; Antonella, Ferrari; M., Di Fonzo; Begini, Paola; Elia, Gigante; Giacinto, Laverde; ALOE SPIRITI, Maria Antonietta; Monarca, Bruno; DELLE FAVE, Gianfranco. - In: DIGESTIVE AND LIVER DISEASE. - ISSN 1590-8658. - 43:2(2011), pp. 139-142. [10.1016/j.dld.2010.05.010]
HCV-positive status and hepatitis flares in patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma treated with rituximab-containing regimens
BEGINI, PAOLA;ALOE SPIRITI, Maria Antonietta;MONARCA, Bruno;DELLE FAVE, Gianfranco
2011
Abstract
Background: Rituximab has provided a revolutionary contribution to the treatment of B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL). A high prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been described in B-cell NHL patients. Cases of liver dysfunction in HCV-positive patients have been reported with rituximab-containing regimens. Aim: to evaluate the liver-related effects of rituximab-containing regimens on HCV-positive CD20-positive B-cell NHL patients. Patients and methods: Retrospective analysis of 104 consecutive patients. HCV status was determined, and development of hepatitis flares analysed. Results: Nine patients (8.6%) were HCV-positive. No correlation was shown between viral load and alanine transaminase levels. Three of the 9 HCV-positive, and none of the 95 HCV-negative developed hepatitis flares (p < 0.001), At the 12-month follow-up hepatitis flare patients were alive and in remission for their haematological disease and no hepatitis flares, liver-related death had developed. Conclusions: HCV-positive status may represent a risk factor for the development of hepatic flares in B-cell NHL patients receiving rituximab-containing regimens. Despite the increase in liver function tests, there were no major clinical events. (C) 2010 Editrice Gastroenterologica Italiana S.r.l. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
