Case Report
Copyright ©2005 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Dec 28, 2005; 11(48): 7688-7689
Published online Dec 28, 2005. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v11.i48.7688
Does Fasciola hepatica infection modify the response of acute hepatitis C virus infection to IFN-α treatment?
Mehmet Sahin, Mehmet Isler, Altug Senol, Mustafa Demirci, Zeynep Dilek Aydın
Mehmet Sahin, Altug Senol, Zeynep Dilek Aydın, Department of Internal Medicine, Suleyman Demirel University, School of Medicine, Isparta, Turkey
Mehmet Isler, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Suleyman Demirel University, School of Medicine, Isparta, Turkey
Mustafa Demirci, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Suleyman Demirel University, School of Medicine, Isparta, Turkey
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Mehmet Sahin, MD, SDU Tıp Fakultesi, Ic Hastalıkları BD, Isparta, Turkey. mehmetsahin66@hotmail.com
Telephone: +90-246-211-26-13 Fax: +90-246-237-02-40
Received: September 21, 2004
Revised: November 23, 2004
Accepted: December 1, 2004
Published online: December 28, 2005
Abstract

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

Keywords: Hepatitis C; Interferon; Fasciola hepatica