Giant negative T waves during interferon therapy in a patient with chronic hepatitis C.
Interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) has been widely used for treatment of chronic hepatitis C in Japan. In general, cardiovascular adverse reactions are rare in association with IFN-alpha therapy. Here, a 64-year-old man with chronic active hepatitis C complained of fatigue, palpitation and depression, and developed atrial fibrillation with prominent negative T waves during IFN-alpha therapy. Echocardiogram showed septal and apical hypertrophy. Three days after discontinuation of IFN-alpha, subjective symptoms and atrial fibrillation subsided. It is unclear whether or not IFN-alpha induced the giant negative T waves with apical hypertrophy. We might observe the developing course of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related myocardial hypertrophy by chance. Cardiovascular toxicity should be carefully monitored during IFN-alpha therapy even in patients with minor cardiac disease, such as premature ventricular contracture (PVC) and mild hypertension.
Fujiwara
T
T
Second Department of Medicine, Okayama University Medical School.
Kiura
K
K
Ochi
K
K
Matsubara
H
H
Yamanari
H
H
Shimomura
H
H
Harada
M
M
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000209:etiology; D018880:Atrial Premature Complexes / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000209:etiology; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004562:Electrocardiography; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000139:chemically induced; D014463:Ultrasonography
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins