title: Hyperpigmentation during interferon-alpha therapy for chronic hepatitis C virus infection.
abstract: Many types of skin disorders concomitantly occur with hepatitis C virus infection. These skin lesions may be induced or worsened during antiviral therapy with interferon-alpha (IFN). To our knowledge, hyperpigmentation of the skin--and especially of the tongue--has not been reported so far. We describe two dark-skinned patients who developed hyperpigmented skin and tongue lesions during combination therapy with IFN and ribavirin. Immunohistochemical analysis of tongue biopsies confirmed the suspicion of melanin deposits in these areas of hyperpigmentation. We hypothesize that during interferon therapy, melanocytes may produce more melanin pigment in the presence of alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone and sufficient amounts of tyrosine, leading to melanin deposits and clinical hyperpigmentation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatogastroenterology, University Hospital Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Willems
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Munte
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Vrolijk
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Den Hollander
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Böhm
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Kemmeren
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: De Man
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Brouwer
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003875:Drug Eruptions / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D017495:Hyperpigmentation / Q000139:chemically induced*; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014060:Tongue Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins