RESEARCH - Long-term anti-TNF therapy for AS in two patients with chronic HBV infection

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Clin Rheumatol. 2007 Jun;26(6):950-2. Epub 2006 Jul 25.

Long-term anti-TNFalpha therapy for ankylosing spondylitis in two

patients with chronic HBV infection.

Sakellariou GT, Chatzigiannis I.

Department of Rheumatology, St. 's Hospital, 161 Ethnikis

Andistaseos Str, 55134, Thessaloniki, Greece. sakelgr@...

Anti-TNFalpha therapy for rheumatic diseases appears to be safe in

patients with chronic hepatitis C. However, the administration of

anti-TNFalpha agents without initiation of prophylactic antiviral

therapy (lamivudine 100 mg/day) in patients with chronic HBV infection

results in exacerbation of liver disease. In this report, we describe

our experience of long-term anti-TNFalpha therapy for ankylosing

spondylitis in two inactive HBsAg carriers without preemptive

antiviral treatment.

PMID: 16865308

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16865308

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