Interferon-induced granulomatous lung disease.
OBJECTIVE
Interferon therapy can induce or exacerbate sarcoidosis. With the increasing use of interferons it is highly likely that more cases of sarcoidosis will be encountered by clinicians. We describe three unusual cases of interferon-induced sarcoidosis and review the most recent relevant literature on this subject.


RESULTS
Interferons, on account of their antiviral antigrowth and immunomodulatory effects, are used to treat various internal and dermatological diseases. Exogenously administered interferons stimulate the Th-1 response, which plays a major role in granuloma formation. In most of the patients with interferon-induced sarcoidosis, the disease subsides when interferon is discontinued. Occasionally, treatment with corticosteroids may become necessary.


CONCLUSIONS
Interferon therapy can induce or exacerbate sarcoidosis, the disease disappears when interferon is discontinued, sometimes treatment with corticosteroids is required.
Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90033, USA. marzouk@usc.edu
Kamel
K
Marzouk
Samer
S
Saleh
Mouhamed
M
Kannass
Om P
OP
Sharma
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003663:Decision Trees; D004893:Erythema Nodosum / Q000139:chemically induced; D005260:Female; D015769:Granuloma, Respiratory Tract / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000009:adverse effects; D017565:Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D012254:Ribavirin; D007372:Interferons