Interstitial pneumonitis associated with pegylated interferon alpha-2b therapy for chronic hepatitis C: case report

Since 2004, pegylated interferon (P-IFN) in combination with ribavirin has become the optimal choice of therapy for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. IFN a-2b suppresses HCV replication and restores elevated serum aminotransferase levels, leading to improvements in the histological changes...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Annals of hepatology 2008-01, Vol.7 (1), p.87
Main Authors: Carrillo-Esper, Raúl, González-Avila, Daniela, Uribe-Ríos, Marittza, Méndez-Sánchez, Nahum
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Antiviral Agents - adverse effects
Fatal Outcome
Female
Hepatitis C, Chronic - drug therapy
Humans
Interferon-alpha - adverse effects
Lung Diseases, Interstitial - chemically induced
Lung Diseases, Interstitial - diagnostic imaging
Polyethylene Glycols - adverse effects
Recombinant Proteins
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
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Summary:Since 2004, pegylated interferon (P-IFN) in combination with ribavirin has become the optimal choice of therapy for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. IFN a-2b suppresses HCV replication and restores elevated serum aminotransferase levels, leading to improvements in the histological changes in the livers of patients with chronic hepatitis C. Unfortunately, P-IFN has several adverse effects, including pneumonitis. This complication has been reported in the treatment of malignant diseases and CHC. We report a patient with interstitial pneumonitis thought to be caused by an IFN-based treatment in an unusual scenario of a patient with HCV-related Child-Pugh stage A cirrhosis, who experienced dyspnea, fever, and cough after 12 months of treatment with P-IFN a-2b. Her lung injury and pulmonary symptoms did not disappear despite discontinuation of IFN and the administration of corticosteroid. We concluded that the patient developed a fatal interstitial pneumonitis associated with P-INF a-2b therapy.
ISSN:1665-2681
DOI:10.1016/S1665-2681(19)31895-2