A case of hearing loss associated with pegylated interferon and ribavirin treatment ameliorated by prednisone.
BACKGROUND
A 51-year-old white man with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who was infected with HCV genotype 2b presented with sudden left-sided hearing loss. He had been taking pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) and ribavirin treatment for 6 weeks without any notable adverse effects. He had also been taking naproxen for 2 years for the treatment of chronic back pain.


METHODS
Physical examination, laboratory tests, including complete blood counts and liver function tests, otoscopic examination, audiogram, MRI of the middle ear, objective causality assessment using the Naranjo probability scale.


METHODS
PEG-IFN-induced acute sensorineural hearing loss.


RESULTS
Prednisone while maintaining treatment with PEG-IFN.
Le
Vu
V
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA.
Bader
Ted
T
Fazili
Javid
J
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a; D011241:Prednisone