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Abstract Details
Hepatitis B virus reactivation associated with atorvastatin
Wu DC. Int J Infect Dis. 2013 May 29. pii: S1201-9712(13)00169-0. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2013.04.001. [Epub ahead of print]
Source
Department of Internal Medicine, Charles B. Wang Community Health Center, 168 Canal Street, New York, NY 10013, USA. Electronic address: wuduchu@yahoo.com.
Abstract
It is well known that statins may cause elevation of liver enzymes, but the association of statins with hepatitis B reactivation has never been reported before. A case of hepatitis B reactivation induced by atorvastatin is reported herein. Atorvastatin not only caused significant increases in aminotransferases, but also caused ongoing viral replication by evidence of a several-log increase in hepatitis B virus. The reactivation recovered spontaneously by discontinuation of atorvastatin. The evolving concept of a double-edged sword with regard to statins in patients with hepatitis B is discussed.