Does Fasciola hepatica infection modify the response of acute hepatitis C virus infection to IFN-alpha treatment?

• Published in: World journal of gastroenterology : WJG Vol. 11; no. 48; pp. 7688 - 7689
• Main Authors: Sahin, Mehmet, Isler, Mehmet, Senol, Altug, Demirci, Mustafa, Aydin, Zeynep Dilek
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Department of Internal Medicine, Suleyman Demirel University, School of Medicine, Isparta, Turkey%Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Suleyman Demirel University, School of Medicine, Isparta, Turkey%Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Suleyman Demirel University, School of Medicine, Isparta, Turkey 28-12-2005; Baishideng Publishing Group Inc
• Subjects: Acute Disease; Case Report; Fascioliasis - virology; Hepatitis C - complications; Hepatitis C - drug therapy; Hepatitis C - immunology; Humans; Interferon-alpha - therapeutic use; Male; Middle Aged; Th1 Cells - immunology; Hepatitis C; Fasciola hepatica; Interferon
• ISSN: 1007-9327; 2219-2840
• DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v11.i48.7688

Immunologic response to acute hepatitis C is mainly a Th1 response, whereas fasciolopsiasis is associated with a diverse T-cell response. Interferon-alpha has immunomodulatory effects and enhances Th1 immune response. Fasciola infection could theoretically interfere with the Th1 immune response, even when acquired after an initial response to interferon-alpha treatment for acute hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. We report here the case of a male patient who acquired Fasciola hepatica infection after an initial response to IFN-alpha therapy with a favorable outcome.