Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease associated with interferon alpha-2b/ribavirin combination therapy.
The complex immunological effects of interferon and ribavirin therapy (IFN/R) in hepatitis C virus (HCV) may also exacerbate or trigger the de novo development of autoimmunity. We report the first case of IFN/R therapy associated with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease, a T-cell-mediated autoimmune response to melanocytes. This condition, which has characteristic ocular, neurological and integumentary findings, elicits a systemic prodrome that may mimic side-effect profile and delay of IFN or mask its recognition. We discuss this disease in the context of the known immunomodulatory effects of IFN-alpha and ribavirin and suggest potential mechanistic explanations for the association.
Sylvestre
D L
DL
Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA. dsylves@itsa.ucsf.edu
Disston
A R
AR
Bui
D P
DP
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014607:Uveomeningoencephalitic Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced*
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin