Systemic lupus erythematosus following virological response to peginterferon alfa-2b in a transplanted patient with chronic hepatitis C recurrence.
Autoimmune manifestations are common both in patients chronically infected by hepatitis C virus, and in patients transplanted for non-autoimmune diseases. A correlation between interferon based treatment and autoimmune diseases or the development of autoantibodies is well established in non-transplanted patients, but few data are available about transplanted patients. It is unclear whether interferon may increase the incidence of acute cellular rejection and there are few reports on the development of atypical autoimmune manifestations during post-liver transplantation interferon or pegylated interferon treatment. We describe a case of systemic lupus erythematosus following treatment with pegylated interferon alfa-2b in a transplanted patient with recurrence of chronic hepatitis C. Our experience suggest that pegylated interferon may induce autoimmune diseases in the immunosuppressed host, different from acute cellular rejection and call for a great attention to possible autoimmune disorders development during interferon based treatments in liver transplanted patients.
Lodato
Francesca
F
Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Gastroenterologia, U.O. di Gastroenterologia, Via Massarenti 9, Bologna 40138, Italy. francesca.lodato@inwind.it
Tame
Maria-Rosa
MR
Colecchia
Antonio
A
Racchini
Chiara
C
Azzaroli
Francesco
F
D'Errico
Antonia
A
Casanova
Silvia
S
Pinna
Antonio
A
Roda
Enrico
E
Mazzella
Giuseppe
G
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D016174:Hepacivirus; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000601:surgery / Q000821:virology; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012008:Recurrence
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b