Autoimmune thrombocytopenia induced by PEG-IFN-alpha plus ribavirin in hepatitis C.
Mild thrombocytopenia is a common adverse effect of interferon-alpha and pegylated interferon-alpha, largely ascribed to bone marrow suppression. Nevertheless, rare cases of autoimmune thrombocytopenia following standard or pegylated interferon treatment have been reported in the literature. In this report, we have presented a patient who developed an immune-mediated thrombocytopenia during the course of therapy with pegylated interferon/ribavirin for hepatitis C virus infection. After cessation of pegylated interferon/ribavirin treatment, thrombocytopenia was treated successfully with danazol and intravenous gamma-globulin.
Demirturk
Nese
N
Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, School of Medicine, Afyon Kocatepe University, Eskisehir, Turkey. nesed60@hotmail.com
Cevik
Figen
F
Demirdal
Tuna
T
Aykin
Nevil
N
Aslan
Vahap
V
D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003613:Danazol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004337:Drug Carriers; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000009:adverse effects
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004337:Drug Carriers; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012254:Ribavirin; D003613:Danazol