title: Exacerbation of ulcerative colitis during alpha-interferon therapy for chronic hepatitis C.
abstract: We report a 34-year-old man with chronic hepatitis C who showed exacerbation of ulcerative colitis during alpha-interferon (IFN alpha) therapy. Discontinuance of the IFN alpha therapy improved his symptoms, suggesting that IFN alpha administration might worsen ulcerative colitis. The administration of sulfasalazine allowed the patient to receive IFN alpha again without flare-up of ulcerative colitis. This case suggests the possible efficacy of sulfasalazine therapy in patients with ulcerative colitis complicated by some other diseases requiring IFN alpha administration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Hattori Memorial Hospital, Nara, Japan.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mitoro
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yoshikawa
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mimura
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yoshikawa
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shiroi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mochi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sakamoto
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yamao
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kikuchi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012460:Sulfasalazine / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D007370:Interferon Type I; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012460:Sulfasalazine