title: Systemic lupus erythematosus following virological response to peginterferon alfa-2b in a transplanted patient with chronic hepatitis C recurrence.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Gastroenterologia, U.O. di Gastroenterologia, Via Massarenti 9, Bologna 40138, Italy. francesca.lodato@inwind.it
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lodato
authors.forename: Maria-Rosa
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Tame
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Colecchia
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Racchini
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Azzaroli
authors.forename: Antonia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: D'Errico
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Casanova
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pinna
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Roda
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mazzella
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b