Incidence and antiviral response of hepatitis C virus reactivation in lupus patients undergoing immunosuppressive therapy.

OBJECTIVE: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a systemic autoimmune disease and usually requires immunosuppressive therapy, which is a major cause of viral reactivation. The incidence and antiviral response in SLE patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) reactivation is unclear and needs to be investigated. METHODS: One hundred and sixty-six SLE patients with antibody to HCV (anti-HCV) status were retrospectively reviewed regarding the events of HCV reactivation. Patients with HCV reactivation were treated with pegylated interferon plus ribavirin treatment. The virological response and relapse rate were evaluated. RESULTS: Twenty-six patients were positive for anti-HCV. During a mean 8.4 years of follow-up, 10 (38.5%) cases developed HCV reactivation. No clear relationship was noted between immunosuppressive therapy and the HCV reactivation. Eight patients underwent antiviral therapy and the rapid virological response (RVR), early virological response, and sustained virological response (SVR) rates were 37.5%, 87.5%, and 75.0%, respectively. However, late relapse (reappearance of HCV RNA in serum after archiving SVR) was found in two (33.3%) of six patients achieving SVR. The two cases were HCV genotype 1 b concurrent with corticosteroid treatment. CONCLUSIONS: HCV reactivation in anti-HCV-positive SLE patients was possibly associated with glucocorticoids. The virological response to interferon plus ribavirin treatment is not inferior to the general population. However, monitoring HCV RNA after SVR is necessary for patients concurrent with corticosteroid treatment due to the risk of late relapse.