Viremia VHC e infección por virus herpes zoster en un paciente en hemodiálisis tratada con eritropoietina / VHC viremia and herpes zoster infection in a patient in hemodialysis treated with erythropoietin

ABSTRACT

Hepatitis C virus infection in chronic hemodialysis patients is associated with several unresolved problems. We report a 85 years old female patient in chronic hemodialysis and treated with erythropoietin, that during the course of an Herpes zoster, presented severe malaise, weight loss and muscle weakness. Two weeks later, a slight rise in serum transaminases was detected. The patients had a negative antibodies for HIV and hepatitis C virus and negative hepatitis B surface antigen. A PCR test was positive for serum hepatitis C virus RNA. The patient's condition deteriorated and she died 7 days after admission. Erythropoietin administration, whose immunosupressive effect has been reported previously, could have influenced the dismal outcome of this patient