title: Successful interferon desensitization in a patient with chronic hepatitis C infection.
abstract: Treatment of hepatitis C, even when absolutely necessary, is almost impossible when interferon cannot be administered for any reason. We report a 65-year-old patient with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and fibrosis, who was unable to receive interferon because of systemic hypersensitivity. The patient was desensitized successfully through gradual incremental exposure to interferon, and HCV infection was eradicated after a complete course of treatment, with no further allergic reactions. This case report that describes successful eradication of hepatitis C in a patient with advanced liver disease after desensitization to interferon revealed that desensitization may not necessarily damage the therapeutic efficacy of the drug.
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterohepatology Research Center of Shiraz University of Medical Science, Nemazee Hospital, 71345-1744 Shiraz, Fars Province, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Alireza
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Taghavi
authors.forename: Ahad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eshraghian
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins