Management of hepatitis C positive patients undergoing active treatment for malignancies: a position paper from the Associazione Italiana di Oncologia Medica (AIOM) and the Societ à Italiana di Malattie Infettive e Tropicali (SIMIT).

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the leading cause of chronic liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) all over the world; approximately 130 –150 million people globally have chronic HCV infection [1]. The prevalence of HCV infection increases steadily with age and, at the same time, advancing age is associated with an increased risk of developing solid tumors, other than HCC [2]. Viral hepatitis reactivation or exacerbation during or following chemotherapy for solid tumors has previously been reported: strong evidence has been reported in literature concerning hepatitis B virus reactivation during immunosuppression, whereas HCV reactivation or exacerbation is unusual and little knowledge is available [3].
Source: Seminars in Oncology - Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Source Type: research