title: Acute polymyositis during treatment of acute hepatitis C with pegylated interferon alpha-2b.
abstract: Hepatitis C virus is not cleared after primary infection in 50-85% of subjects exposed to hepatitis C virus. Anti-viral treatment during the early phase of infection significantly enhances the likelihood of a sustained clearance of hepatitis C virus. Although, a variety of autoimmune-related side effects have been observed during interferon therapy for chronic hepatitis, immuno-mediated adverse reactions have not been reported during treatment of acute hepatitis C. We describe the case of a patient who developed acute hepatitis C virus infection and, while receiving pegylated interferon alpha-2b monotherapy, developed a severe polymyositis. This case illustrates the potential risk of autoimmunity by interferon, also for acute hepatitis, and underlines the importance of a prompt diagnosis and a rapid discontinuation of interferon treatment for an improvement of clinical outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Chair of Gastroenterology, University of Palermo, Palermo 90127, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Venezia
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Licata
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Di Marco
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Craxì
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Almasio
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000187:drug effects; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood; D004337:Drug Carriers; D016174:Hepacivirus; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017285:Polymyositis / Q000139:chemically induced*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004337:Drug Carriers; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D003402:Creatine Kinase; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a