title: Skin reaction in antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis C: a role for polyethylene glycol interferon?
abstract: In the past decade, different modalities of antiviral therapy have been adopted aimed at eradicating hepatitis C virus infection. Initially, interferon was used in monotherapy, then interferon combined with ribavirin and amantadine. Recently, interferon has been conjugated with polyethylene glycol to allow optimization of its pharmacokinetic properties and to improve its antiviral activity. This study focused on the characteristics of the skin reactions that we observed in 27 patients with naïve hepatitis C who received polyethylene glycol interferon-ribavirin-amantadine or polyethylene glycol interferon-ribavirin and in 10 previous non-responders to interferon monotherapy who were retreated with triple therapy. In 9 patients (7 on triple therapy) dermatitis-like lesions were observed, and in 5 the severity of the lesions necessitated withdrawal from therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Sassari, Italy. fcottoni@uniss.it
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cottoni
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bolognini
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Deplano
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Garrucciu
authors.forename: Noemi Elisabetta
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Manzoni
authors.forename: Giovanna Francesca
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Careddu
authors.forename: Maria Antonia
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Montesu
authors.forename: Andreina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tocco
authors.forename: Amelia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lissia
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Solinas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000547:Amantadine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D003875:Drug Eruptions / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012997:Solvents / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012997:Solvents; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; D000547:Amantadine