title: [Autoimmune hemolytic anemia presenting during treatment of chronic hepatitis C with interferon alpha].
abstract: Autoimmune hemolytic anemia has been rarely described in patients with chronic hepatitis C during interferon-alpha therapy. We report a case of Coombs-positive autoimmune hemolytic anemia, occurring 9 months after the onset of monotherapy with interferon-alpha-2b (3 million units thrice in week) for chronic hepatitis C. Interferon withdrawal and prednisone treatment induced a complete remission of hematological findings after 3 months. During a follow-up period of 30 months after cessation of interferon, hemoglobin levels stabilized about 16 g/dL, and the indirect Coombs test turned negative, while the direct Coombs test remained weakly positive; besides, serum alanine aminotransferase values were normal and hepatitis C virus-RNA remained undetectable. In our patient, clinical and laboratory findings suggested a correlation between autoimmune side effects of interferon-alpha and autoimmune hemolytic anemia.
authors.affiliation: Sezione di Ematologia, Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Medicina Pubblica, Università degli Studi di Bari.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rizzi
authors.forename: Francesco P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Lucarella
authors.forename: Giovanni B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Ruggieri
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: L'Abbate
mesh_terms: D000744:Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune / Q000139:chemically induced*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins