title: Interferon-ribavirin-associated ischemic colitis.
abstract: Interferon-alpha and ribavirin are widely used treatments for chronic hepatitis C. It is believed to be a cytokine made by T lymphocytes upon activation by foreign antigens. Complications of interferon and ribavirin therapy include systemic flulike symptoms, marrow suppression, emotional liability, auto immune reactions (especially auto immune thyroiditis) and miscellaneous side effects such as alopecia, rashes, diarrhea, numbness, and tingling of the extremities. With the possible exception of autoimmune thyroiditis, all these side effects are reversed upon dose lowering or cessation of therapy. We report a case of a 51-year-old man, with no previous history of vascular disease, who developed ischemic colitis after interferon-alpha and ribavirin therapy for chronic hepatitis C. In the literature, there have been only 2 published accounts associating interferon-alpha use with ischemic colitis in 2 patients. This report illustrates a better association of interferon-alpha and ribavirin with ischemic colitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Michigan State University, Lansing, MI, USA. sujeethpunnam@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Sujeeth R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Punnam
authors.forename: Vijayasimha R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Pothula
authors.forename: Nandu
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gourineni
authors.forename: Aparna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Punnam
authors.forename: Venkateshan
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ranganathan
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001706:Biopsy; D017091:Colitis, Ischemic / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D003106:Colon / Q000473:pathology; D003113:Colonoscopy; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012254:Ribavirin