title: Sudden hearing loss in a patient hepatitis C virus (HCV) positive on therapy with alpha-interferon: a possible autoimmune-microvascular pathogenesis.
abstract: Alpha interferon (alpha-IFN) is used for the treatment of various systemic disorders. Side-effects of alpha-IFN therapy can involve numerous organ systems, but sudden hearing loss has only once been recorded. We report a case of sudden hearing loss occurring in a patient with chronic hepatitis C treated with alpha-IFN and recovered five days after the discontinuation of this agent. This is the first record of anti-endothelial cell antibodies detection in a patient with sudden hearing loss. The finding of anti-endothelial cell antibodies suggests an association between sudden hearing loss and microvascular damage during interferon therapy.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Otolaryngology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cadoni
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marinelli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Santis
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Romito
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Manna
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ottaviani
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D005260:Female; D003639:Hearing Loss, Sudden / Q000139:chemically induced*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008833:Microcirculation; D008875:Middle Aged; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000139:chemically induced; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha