Case report: agranulocytosis induced by interferon-alpha therapy for chronic hepatitis C.
A 60-year-old woman presented with chronic active hepatitis C whose HCV-RNA genotype was II according to Okamoto's classification and serum HCV-RNA concentration was 10(4) copies/mL. Agranulocytosis was induced 13 days from the commencement of interferon (IFN)-alpha 2b (6 MU/day) therapy, so the IFN therapy was immediately discontinued. The agranulocytosis improved rapidly with the administration of a granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF). The possibility that IFN was associated with maturational arrest of myeloid progenitor cells was considered. During the course of 3 years of follow-up, her liver function has remained normal and serum HCV-RNA remains negative.
Higashi
Y
Y
Department of Gastroenterology, Saiseikai Kumamoto Hospital, Japan.
Sakai
K
K
Tada
S
S
Miyase
S
S
Nakamura
T
T
Kamio
T
T
Haraguchi
O
O
D000380:Agranulocytosis / Q000139:chemically induced*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha