Interstitial pneumonitis associated with pegylated interferon alpha-2b therapy for chronic hepatitis C: case report.
Since 2004, pegylated interferon (P-IFN) in combination with ribavirin has become the optimal choice of therapy for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. IFN a-2b suppresses HCV replication and restores elevated serum aminotransferase levels, leading to improvements in the histological changes in the livers of patients with chronic hepatitis C. Unfortunately, P-IFN has several adverse effects, including pneumonitis. This complication has been reported in the treatment of malignant diseases and CHC. We report a patient with interstitial pneumonitis thought to be caused by an IFN-based treatment in an unusual scenario of a patient with HCV-related Child-Pugh stage A cirrhosis, who experienced dyspnea, fever, and cough after 12 months of treatment with P-IFN a-2b. Her lung injury and pulmonary symptoms did not disappear despite discontinuation of IFN and the administration of corticosteroid. We concluded that the patient developed a fatal interstitial pneumonitis associated with P-INF a-2b therapy.
Carrillo-Esper
Raúl
R
Intensive Care Unit, Medica Sur Clinic & Foundation, Mexico City, Mexico.
González-Avila
Daniela
D
Uribe-Ríos
Marittza
M
Méndez-Sánchez
Nahum
N
D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a