title: Sarcoidosis associated with interferon-alpha therapy for chronic hepatitis C.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recombinant interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha ) is widely used for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C. Pulmonary side effects of IFN-alpha therapy seem to be rare. So far, only a few cases of sarcoidosis in association with IFN-alpha treatment of chronic hepatitis C have been
  
  
  METHODS
  A 52-year-old woman with chronic hepatitis C developed sarcoidosis during treatment with IFN-alpha. Diagnosis of sarcoidosis was based on chest imaging studies, the increased serum angiotensin converting enzyme levels, and the histology of a biopsied cervical lymph node. Spontaneous remission was observed following IFN-alpha withdrawal.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Use of recombinant IFN-alpha in patients with chronic hepatitis C may trigger or contribute to the development of sarcoidosis in susceptible individuals. Patients should be monitored during and following IFN-alpha therapy for the occurrence of manifestations suggesting sarcoidosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Arta Hospital, Arta, Greece. dipaio@otenet.gr
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Papaioannides
authors.forename: Marianthi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fotinou
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Korantzopoulos
authors.forename: Panagiota
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Latsi
authors.forename: Demetrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sinapidis
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Akritidis
authors.forename: Dora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Orphanidou
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins