title: [A case of Bell's palsy associated with peginterferon Alfa-2a and ribavirin therapy for chronic hepatitis C virus infection].
abstract: Pegylated interferon alfa-2a (PEG-IFN) and ribavirin combination therapy is the first line treatment for chronic HCV infection. There are four reports of Bell's palsy associated with interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) and ribavirin therapy. We report here a case of Bell's palsy that occurred in a patient with chronic HCV infection during combination PEG-IFN and ribavirin therapy. The patient was 49-year-old man with chronic hepatitis C for 2 years. The liver biopsy showed grade 1 and stage 1. Therapy with PEG-IFN (Pegasys) 180 microgram/week and ribavirin 1200 mg/day was initiated. After 3 weeks of treatment, the patient showed a loss of muscular tone on the left side of his face. A diagnosis of Bell's palsy was made, and the PEG-IFN and ribavirin therapy was stopped. Prednisolone 45 mg/d was given and then tapered for 8 weeks. His palsy improved over 6 weeks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterolgy, Wallace Memorial Baptist Hospital, Busan, Korea. docyeolmoo@hanmail.net
authors.forename: Moo Yeol
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hoon
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Yeong Muk
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Joon Sang
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D020330:Bell Palsy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a