Case Report
Copyright ©2009 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Aug 21, 2009; 15(31): 3944-3946
Published online Aug 21, 2009. doi: 10.3748/wjg.15.3944
Sustained virologic response following HCV eradication in two brothers with X-linked agammaglobulinaemia
Diarmaid D Houlihan, Eoin R Storan, John M Lee
Diarmaid D Houlihan, Eoin R Storan, John M Lee, Department of Gastroenterology, University College Hospital Galway, Newcastle Road, Galway, Ireland
Author contributions: Houlihan DD and Storan ER both researched and wrote the paper; Lee JM is the consultant physician who cares for the patients; Lee JM supervised the writing of the manuscript.
Correspondence to: Dr. Diarmaid Houlihan, Department of Gastroenterology, University College Hospital Galway, Newcastle Road, Galway, Ireland. diarmaidhoulihan@hotmail.com
Telephone: +353-87-6891649
Fax: +353-91-542289
Received: April 21, 2009
Revised: June 30, 2009
Accepted: July 7, 2009
Published online: August 21, 2009
Abstract

X-linked agammaglobulinaemia (XLA) is a humoral immunodeficiency syndrome characterized from childhood by the absence of circulating B lymphocytes, absent or reduced levels of serum immunoglobulin and recurrent bacterial infections. For many affected patients, regular treatment with immunoglobulin is life saving. Hepatitis C viral (HCV) infection acquired through contaminated blood products is widely described in this patient cohort. The natural history of HCV infection in patients with XLA tends to follow a more rapid and aggressive course compared to immunocompetent individuals. Furthermore, standard anti-viral therapy appears to be less efficacious in this patient cohort. Here we report the cases of two brothers with XLA who contracted HCV through contaminated blood products. They were treated with a six month course of Interferon alpha-2b and Ribavirin. We report a sustained virologic response five years after completing treatment.

Keywords: Hepatitis C virus; X-linked agammaglobulinaemia; Immunodeficiency; Viral hepatitis; Cirrhosis; Hepatocellular carcinoma