Cryptosporidiosis in a patient on PEG-interferon and ribavirin for recurrent hepatitis C after living donor liver transplantation.
We report a case of a 48-year-old male who developed cryptosporidial enterocolitis while on pegylated-interferon alpha-2a and ribavirin for recurrent hepatitis C 2 years after living donor liver transplantation. He recovered after discontinuation of interferon and ribavirin and intermittent lowering of the immunosuppressant. We postulate that the myelodepressant effect of interferon and ribavirin in addition to an established immunosuppressive regimen permitted this opportunistic infection. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of cryptosporidiosis in a patient treated with interferon and ribavirin for recurrent hepatitis C after liver transplantation in the literature.
Manz
M
M
Division of Gastroenterology, University Department of Internal Medicine, Kantonsspital Liestal, Liestal, Switzerland.
Steuerwald
M
M
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000209:etiology*; D004760:Enterocolitis / Q000209:etiology*; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000517:prevention & control; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012008:Recurrence; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a