An unusual adverse effect of interferon: hypertrichosis of the eyelashes.
Hypertrichosis of the eyelashes is a rare adverse effect of interferon-alpha treatment. We present a 21-year-old man with chronic renal failure and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection who developed hypertrichosis of the eyelashes as a complication of IFN-alpha therapy. The patient was a candidate for living related renal transplantation and was given IFN-alpha 15 million units per week for HBV DNA positivity. After 6 months of therapy, HBV DNA positivity persisted, and the dose of IFN was increased to 30 million units per week. At the end of the first half of the second 6 months of therapy, the patient suffered from bilateral hypertrichosis of the eyelashes.
Department of Internal Medicine, Baskent University, School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. arzugur@yahoo.com
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Ozdoğan
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Gür
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Kadayifcilar
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Boyacioğlu
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Ozgür
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Teletar
D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D006983:Hypertrichosis / Q000139:chemically induced*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins