title: Mono-arthritis following intensified interferon beta therapy for chronic hepatitis C.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, Mie University School of Medicine, 2-174, Edobashi, Tsu, Mie 514-8507, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazumoto
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Murata
authors.forename: Katsuya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shiraki
authors.forename: Koujiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takase
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakano
authors.forename: Yukihiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tameda
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016899:Interferon-beta