title: Eosinophilia triggered by beta-interferon therapy for chronic hepatitis C.
abstract: The authors describe a case of eosinophilia occurring in an atopic patient suffering from chronic active hepatitis C following a 2-week course with beta-interferon. Since the most common causes of eosinophilia were ruled out by laboratory and instrumental investigations, the authors suggest a possible role of beta-interferon in triggering eosinophilia, in light of current beliefs about the factors modulating eosinophil growth, differentiation and survival. In particular, it has been supposed that the inhibitory effect of beta-interferon on gamma-interferon production could have triggered a preferential expansion of Th2 type T-helper cells whose particular profile of cytokine secretion has been shown to play a crucial role in the development of eosinophilia. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of eosinophilia induced by beta-interferon therapy for chronic hepatitis C.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine F. Magrassi, II University of Naples School of Medicine, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gattoni
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cecere
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Caiazzo
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha; D016899:Interferon-beta