Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation induced by cytotoxic chemotherapy or immunosuppressive therapy is an important issue in carcinoma patients. We report a case of drug hepatopathy in a patient with oral carcinoma which was suspected of HBV reactivation during oral cancer therapy. The patient was a 63-year-old man. He was given a diagnosis of lower gingiva squamous cell carcinoma. He received preoperative chemotherapy with docetaxel and underwent an operation. To prevent postoperative swelling, he was administered steroids. Six days after the operation, blood testing revealed a high AST and ALT. Although we suspected HBV reactivation at first, the quantitative HBV-DNA level was low and the diagnosis was eliminated. With intravenous fluid therapy, AST and ALT gradually decreased and returned to within normal limits. As a result, he was given a diagnosis of drug hepatopathy through the treatment progress. Our findings suggest that attention should be paid to HBV reactivation in an HBV carrier who receives cytotoxic chemotherapy or immunosuppressive therapy.
