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World J Gastrointest Pharmacol Ther. Apr 6, 2012; 3(2): 21-28
Published online Apr 6, 2012. doi: 10.4292/wjgpt.v3.i2.21
Published online Apr 6, 2012. doi: 10.4292/wjgpt.v3.i2.21
‘Les liaisons dangereuses’: Hepatitis C, Rituximab and B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas
Massimo Marignani, Michela di Fonzo, Paola Begini, Elia Gigante, Ilaria Deli, Sara Gallina, Emanuela de Santis, Gianfranco Delle Fave, Department of Digestive and Liver Disease, School of Medicine and Psychology University “Sapienza”, Azienda Ospedaliera S. Andrea, Via Grottarossa, 1035-1039, 00189 Rome, Italy
Adriano M Pellicelli, Liver Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera San Camillo Forlanini, 000149 Rome, Italy
M Christina Cox, Department of Haematology, School of Medicine and Psychology University “Sapienza” Azienda Ospedaliera S. Andrea, Via Grottarossa, 1035-1039, 00189 Rome, Italy
Author contributions: Marignani M, Gigante E, Gallina S, Deli I, de Santis E and Pellicelli AM performed the research; Marignani M, di Fonzo M and Begini P analyzed the data; Marignani M and Delle Fave G drafted the paper; Marignani M and Cox MC wrote the paper.
Correspondence to: Massimo Marignani, MD, Department of Digestive and Liver Disease, Biliary Tract and Liver Disease Section, School of Medicine and Psychology University “Sapienza”, Azienda Ospedaliera Sant’Andrea, Via Grottarossa, 1035-1039, 00189 Rome, Italy. mmarignani@hotmail.com
Telephone: +39-6-33775691 Fax: +39-6-33775526
Received: April 21, 2011
Revised: September 27, 2011
Accepted: August 10, 2011
Published online: April 6, 2012
Revised: September 27, 2011
Accepted: August 10, 2011
Published online: April 6, 2012
Abstract
Rituximab has provided a revolutionary contribution to the treatment of B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas (NHL). A high prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been described in B-cell NHL patients. Cases of liver dysfunction in HCV-positive patients have been reported with Rituximab-containing regimens. In this paper we review the recent data regarding the effects of Rituximab in NHL patients with HCV infection. We also added a section devoted to improving communication between oncohaematologists and hepatologists. Furthermore, we propose a common methodological ground to study hepatic toxicity emerging during chemotherapy.
Keywords: Rituximab; B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma; Hepatitis C virus; Immunochemotherapy; Methodology