[Severe autoimmune neutropenia and thrombopenia associated with chronic C hepatitis: effect of antiviral therapy]

Gastroenterol Clin Biol. 2005 Mar;29(3):297-9. doi: 10.1016/s0399-8320(05)80766-3.
[Article in French]

Abstract

We report the case of a 45-year-old man admitted for severe autoimmune thrombopenia and neutropenia associated with chronic viral C hepatitis. After failed, intravenous gammaglobulin and corticosteroid therapy antiviral treatment with interferon and ribavirin was given for one year. Thrombopenia improved progressively during antiviral therapy and worsened after the end of treatment. Neutropenia improved during antiviral therapy. Two years after the end of treatment, serum RNA-HCV was positive, white cell count was normal and platelet count was 77 G/L. In conclusion, these results suggest that antiviral therapy may be useful in patients with auto-immune cytopenia associated with viral hepatitis C infection.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / blood
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / complications
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha / therapeutic use
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neutropenia / complications
  • Neutropenia / drug therapy*
  • Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / complications
  • Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / drug therapy*
  • RNA, Viral / blood
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Ribavirin / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha
  • RNA, Viral
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Ribavirin