Interferon-alpha treatment of hepatitis D induces tuberculosis exacerbation in an immigrant.
This report describes the case of a young Romanian patient who developed a severe exacerbation of pulmonary tuberculosis during interferon-alpha treatment for chronic hepatitis D. While this occurrence underscores that clinical guidelines should be applied with caution in immigrants from underdeveloped countries, due to the possible presence of unrecognized or unreported comorbidity, the mechanisms for an interferon-related exacerbation of pulmonary tuberculosis are also examined. We propose that IFN-induced weight loss and anorexia may have played an important role in promoting clinical manifestations of tuberculosis in our patient.
Telesca
Claudia
C
Hepatology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Edificio F, Torre Nord, Stanza F-575, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy.
Angelico
Mario
M
Piccolo
Paola
P
Nosotti
Lorenzo
L
Morrone
Aldo
A
Longhi
Chiara
C
Carbone
Marco
M
Baiocchi
Leonardo
L
D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D019701:Hepatitis D, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011859:Radiography; D012383:Romania; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha