title: Diffuse skin reaction in patient with hepatitis B, treated with two different formulations of pegylated interferon.
abstract: Diffuse skin reactions, commonly leading to discontinuation of the treatment, have been reported in patients with hepatitis C treated with interferon. They were not as yet described in patients treated with a newer formulation of interferon, namely, pegylated interferon (PegINF). A 37-year-old male patient with viral hepatitis B developed a diffuse urticarial skin reaction during treatment with two different forms of PegINF. Despite the skin reaction, the treatment was continued, and the patient responded very well to topical steroids and antihistamines. The present report suggests that despite the severity of reaction, withdrawal of PegINF may not always be required because this particular skin reaction responded well to symptomatic treatment. This is important, because discontinuation of PegINF may decrease the chance of achieving a sustained virological response in patients with viral hepatitis.
authors.affiliation: Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario. p.milkiewicz@wp.pl
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Milkiewicz
authors.forename: Colina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yim
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pache
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Heathcote
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005076:Exanthema / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004337:Drug Carriers; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a