title: Lichen planus and chronic hepatitis C: exacerbation of the lichen under interferon-alpha-2a therapy.
abstract: A 51-year-old man was treated for histologically proven chronic hepatitis C with 3 MU of recombinant interferon-alpha-2a three times a week. Before interferon therapy, a mild lichen planus (hypertrophic variant) had been diagnosed, which exacerbated within 6 weeks of treatment to a severe erosive oral form. Then interferon therapy was stopped because local measures did not improve oral lesions. However, the patient tolerated interferon therapy well, and the initially four-fold elevated aminotransferase levels returned to normal. Nine weeks after discontinuation of interferon therapy, nearly all the buccal mucous membrane lesions had disappeared. But 8 weeks after withdrawal of interferon, aminotransferase levels rose again to six times the normal range. Treating physicians should know that a pre-existing lichen planus would potentially exacerbate, as a side effect of interferon-alpha-2a therapy of chronic hepatitis. However, further observations are needed to decide its clinical relevance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Hospital Geral de Santo António, Oporto, Portugal.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Areias
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Velho
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cerqueira
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barbêdo
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Amaral
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sanches
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Massa
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Saraiva
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D018450:Disease Progression; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017676:Lichen Planus, Oral / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins