Reactivation of herpesvirus in patients with hepatitis C treated with direct-acting antiviral agents

BACKGROUND: We performed a case-series analysis of reactivation of herpesvirus in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection treated with direct-acting antiviral (DAA) agents. METHODS: Eight cases were detected among 100 treated patients with DAA regimens in Qena University Hospital from June 2016 to June 2017. Herpesvirus was reactivated in eight patients who received DAA therapy. None of the cases had risk factor for herpes zoster reactivation. RESULTS: The DAA regimens used were sofosbuvir/daclatasvir in six cases and sofosbuvir/ledipasvir in two cases. Immune changes that follow HCV clearance might lead to reactivation of other viruses, such as herpesvirus. CONCLUSION: Patients with HCV infection suspected of having herpesvirus infection should be treated promptly.