title: Lichen planus and leukocytoclastic vasculitis induced by interferon alpha-2b in a subject with HCV-related chronic active hepatitis.
abstract: Lichen planus (LP) has been reported in association with chronic active hepatitis, primary biliary cirrhosis and other chronic liver diseases. The occurrence of LP in persons with hepatitis C virus (HCV) was reported by Robert et al., and the possible relationship between LP and hepatitis virus has also been supported by cases of LP following hepatitis B vaccination. Exacerbation or appearance of LP during the treatment of chronic hepatitis C, lymphoproliferative diseases and melanoma with alpha-interferon (IFN-alpha) and improvement of these diseases after discontinuation of this drug indicate that IFN-alpha may possibly induce LP. We present a case of cutaneo-mucous LP in a woman with chronic active hepatitis treated with IFN-alpha and in whom local leukocytoclastic vasculitis was induced by the intradermal injection of a very low dose of IFN-alpha.
authors.affiliation: University Clinic of Dermatology and Venereology, Faculty of Medical Sciences and H. de Pulido Valente, Lisbon, Portugal. jorgemspinto@netcabo.pt
authors.forename: J M de Sousa
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.forename: M Sacramento
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.forename: T Estanislau
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Correia
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008010:Lichen Planus / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D018366:Vasculitis, Leukocytoclastic, Cutaneous / Q000139:chemically induced*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins