Case study on drug-related adverse effects of hepatitis C therapy.
The case of a 46-year-old woman with chronic hepatitis C who was prescribed subcutaneous pegylated interferon once a week and oral ribavirin once a day is presented. Within 24 h after the first injection to her left arm, the patient developed pruritus and erythematous papules at the injection site and painful papules on her hands. After immediate administration of antihistamines, the pruritus and papules remitted. One wk later, after injection in the right arm, skin lesions and pruritus were seen. After the third injection to the abdomen, the patient developed a rash, and after the fourth and fifth injections to other areas of the abdomen, injection-site papules were seen. The patient had no skin reactions for the next 12 mo, with the exception of injection-site papules. Hepatitis C virus RNA was negative after 12 mo of treatment. Clearly, patience is important during hepatitis C therapy in order to avoid unnecessary examinations and to promote successful outcomes.
Basaranoglu
Metin
M
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Selcuk University School of Medicine, Konya, Turkey.
Celebi
Selman
S
Karaaslan
Hayri
H
Demir
Ali
A
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists; D007370:Interferon Type I; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin