Interstitial pneumonitis during combination therapy with interferon-alpha and ribavirin in a patient with chronic Hepatitis C.
After nine weeks of combination therapy with recombinant interferon-alpha and ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C a 62-year old woman complained of a dry cough and exertional dyspnea. An elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate was noticed. Prior to treatment chest X-rays and physical examination revealed no pulmonary abnormalities. Inhalative steroids did not improve the symptoms and afer 12 weeks treatment chest X-ray and computed tomography showed bilateral reticonodular lung infiltration suggesting a diagnosis of interstitial pneumonitis. Cough and dyspnea resolved and abnormal lung shadows were reversible within two months following discontinuation of interferon-/ribavirin treatment. In the Japanese literature there are similar reports on pneumonitis occurring during high-dose IFN-alpha and concomitantly Chinese herbal medicine treatment. To our knowledge this is one of the first cases of interstitial pneumonitis due to combination therapy with IFN-alpha and ribavirin in chronic hepatitis C reported in the western world.
Rothfuss
K S
KS
Zentrum für Innere Medizin I, Abteilung für Gastroenterologie und Hepatologie, Robert-Bosch-Krankenhaus, Germany. Katja.Rothfuss@gmx.de
Bode
J C
JC
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin