Study Examines Herpesvirus Reactivation in Patients with Hepatitis C

Treatment with direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapies may be associated with reactivation of herpesvirus in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, according to a new study.

New DAA therapies can decrease treatment duration and lesson adverse events associated with previously used interferon-based therapies. However, the effect of DAA therapies on the onset of bacterial infections is not well known.
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For their study, the researchers analyzed 576 patients with HCV who were being treated with DAA combinations at 3 hospitals in Spain from November 2014 to November 2015

The participants were then matched for sex and age with a control group consisting of 236 patients with HCV; 23 were untreated, and 213 were treated with interferon-based therapies.

After a median 8 weeks after therapy initiation, 10 cases of herpesvirus reactivation were identified within the 576 patients receiving DAA therapy (2%). None of the controls experienced reactivation. All 10 patients who experienced reactivation achieved a sustained virologic response.

“Immune changes that follow clearance of HCV might lead to reactivation of other viruses, such as herpesvirus,” the researchers concluded. “Patients with HCV infection suspected of having herpesvirus infection should be treated immediately. Some groups also might be screened for herpesvirus infection.”

—Amanda Balbi

Reference:
Perelló M. C, Fernández-Carrillo C, Longoño M-C, et al. Reactiviation of herpesvirus in patients with hepatitis C treated with direct-acting antiviral agents. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2016;14(11):1662-1666.e1. http://www.cghjournal.org/article/S1542-3565(16)30203-8/fulltext. Accessed November 16, 2016.