title: Interferon-alpha treatment of hepatitis D induces tuberculosis exacerbation in an immigrant.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Hepatology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Edificio F, Torre Nord, Stanza F-575, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Telesca
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Angelico
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Piccolo
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nosotti
authors.forename: Aldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Morrone
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Longhi
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carbone
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Baiocchi
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha