Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is one of the main causes of liver disease worldwide. Patients undergoing surgery are at risk of acquiring acute HCV infection and those undergoing surgical eradication of a neoplasia may be indicated for adjuvant treatment. Therefore, unlike chronic infection, these patients may simultaneously need antiviral therapy with interferon for acute hepatitis C and cytotoxic chemotherapy. To date, no data are available regarding the efficacy and tolerability of concomitant interferon treatment and antineoplastic chemotherapy in the setting of acute hepatitis C treatment. Here, we report the case of a 60-year-old man who developed acute hepatitis C after left hemicolectomy for an adenocarcinoma. He received concomitant antiviral treatment with interferon-α and adjuvant chemotherapy with capecitabine and oxaliplatin. Both treatments were well-tolerated and the patient completed the scheduled therapies. HCV infection was eradicated and the patient is free of neoplastic disease two years and 6 months after surgery.
Keywords: Acute hepatitis C; HCV; IFN-α; adjuvant chemotherapy; colorectal cancer.