[Autoimmune hemolytic anemia presenting during treatment of chronic hepatitis C with interferon alpha].
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.
Rizzi
Rita
R
Sezione di Ematologia, Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Medicina Pubblica, Università degli Studi di Bari.
Lucarella
Francesco P
FP
Ruggieri
Giovanni B
GB
L'Abbate
Matteo
M
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
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins