Mono-arthritis following intensified interferon beta therapy for chronic hepatitis C.
A 39-year-old man with chronic hepatitis C was administered interferon beta (3 MU twice a day) daily. Before interferon therapy, he did not have any symptoms and abnormal data related with autoimmune diseases. On the 16th day of interferon, mono-arthritis occurred at his right elbow. Anti-nuclear antigen or rheumatoid factor was still negative. Discontinuation of interferon for a week with non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug relieved his symptom. Re-administration of interferon (6 MU once a day, three times a week) did not induce arthralgia any more. Administration of interferon beta twice a day may accelerate the cellular immunity twice. Careful observation should be taken even in the cases without pre-existing autoimmune diseases.
Murata
Kazumoto
K
First Department of Internal Medicine, Mie University School of Medicine, 2-174, Edobashi, Tsu, Mie 514-8507, Japan.
Shiraki
Katsuya
K
Takase
Koujiro
K
Nakano
Takeshi
T
Tameda
Yukihiko
Y
D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001168:Arthritis / Q000139:chemically induced*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016899:Interferon-beta