Combined interferon, famciclovir and GM-CSF treatment of HBV infection in an individual with periarteritis nodosa.

Treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in an individual with periarteritis nodosum is described. A combination of famciclovir, granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interferon alpha 2b was utilized. The periarteritis, but not the HBV infection, responded to immunosuppressive therapy consisting of cyclophosphamide and glucocorticoids. Moreover, the patient failed to clear this HBV infection, despite a full year of interferon therapy at 5 MU daily. With the addition of famciclovir and GM-CSF, the HBV infection rapidly resolved and he converted from HBsAg and eAg positive to HBsAb and eAb positive. No exacerbation of his periarteritis nodosum occurred during the course of his antiviral therapy.