[Crohn's disease associated with interferon and ribavirin treatment for chronic hepatitis C].
Digestive side effects associated with interferon and ribavirin in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C seem to be non specific. So far, inflammatory bowel diseases have only been rarely described in this context. We report two cases of Crohn's disease which occurred a few months after interferon and ribavirin treatment for chronic hepatitis C. The first case was a 43 year old man treated for 7 months with a interferon and ribavirin combination for chronic hepatitis C who experienced colitis related to Crohn's disease, with the occurrence of articular and cutaneous manifestations. The second case was a 43 year old women treated for 8 months with a pegylated interferon and ribavirin combination for chronic hepatitis C who developed Crohn's disease with right ileo-colic topography and severe evolution requiring an ileo-coecal resection because of the failure of medical treatment. The alpha interferon used for its antiviral action against hepatitis C virus, has complex immuno-modulation effects which could reveal latent Crohn's disease.
Khalil
Ali
A
Service de Pathologie Digestive, Hôpital Saint-Philibert, 115 rue Grand But, 59462 Lomme Cedex.
Lucidarme
Damien
D
Desurmont
Philippe
P
Hamdan-Khalil
Rima
R
Filoche
Bernard
B
D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000139:chemically induced*; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000009:adverse effects*
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D012254:Ribavirin; D007372:Interferons