Unexpected outcome (positive or negative) including adverse drug reactions
Progression of viraemia during treatment with infliximab in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis and chronic hepatitis C infection
1 Sakai Onshinkai Hospital, Department of Rheumatology, Fukaishimizucho 2140-1, Naka-ku, Sakai City, Osaka, 599-8273, Japan
2 Osaka Prefecture University, Department of Rehabilitation, Habikino 3-7-30, Habikino, Osaka, 583-8555, Japan
3 Wakayama Prefecture Medical College, Department of Immunoregulation, Saito Bioinnovation Center 105, Saitoasagi, 7-7-20, Ibaraki, Osaka, 567-0085, Japan
Correspondence to:
Osamu Saiki, osaiki{at}rehab.osakafu-u.ac.jp
Tumour necrosis factor 
(TNF) antagonists are effective for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but concerns remain about their safety in the presence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The influence of treatment with the TNF antagonist infliximab on levels of HCV viraemia and serum transaminases in a 38-year-old patient with RA and HCV was examined to assess the safety of the drug. After starting infliximab treatment, the patient’s clinical symptoms improved significantly (28-joint Disease Activity Score (DAS28) of less than 3) and levels of transaminases were normal. At the 14th injection of infliximab, the levels of HCV viraemia and transaminases were significantly elevated. After stopping the infliximab injections, the levels of transaminases returned to normal with infusion of glycyrrhizinate derivatives within 3 months. Evidence is provided of aggravation of serum transaminases and progression of viraemia during treatment with infliximab in a patient with RA and HCV infection.
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