Sarcoidosis associated with interferon-alpha therapy for chronic hepatitis C.
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.
Papaioannides
Dimitrios
D
Department of Medicine, Arta Hospital, Arta, Greece. dipaio@otenet.gr
Fotinou
Marianthi
M
Korantzopoulos
Panagiotis
P
Latsi
Panagiota
P
Sinapidis
Demetrios
D
Akritidis
Nikolaos
N
Orphanidou
Dora
D
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*
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins