Treatment of autoimmune thrombocytopenia in a case of chronic hepatitis C with ursodeoxycholic acid.
Pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) alpha and ribavirin therapy has become the standard treatment in chronic hepatitis C virus (HCH)-infected patients. While thrombocytopenia associated with IFN use is frequently observed among these patients, autoimmune thrombocytopenia is one of the rarely observed adverse effects. In the present report, we present a case with chronic HCV infection in which autoimmune thrombocytopenia developed at week 7 of PEG-IFN alpha 2b plus ribavirin therapy. The patient subsequently received ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) treatment. Although there is not an adequate number of studies on this subject, it was concluded that the use of UDCA in cases of autoimmune thrombocytopenia that have developed due to PEG-IFN treatment in chronic HCV infection is a favorable option.
Department of Infectious Diseases, Eskisehir Yunus Emre State Hospital, Eskisehir, Turkey. hasannaz73@mynet.com
Hasan
H
Naz
Vahap
V
Aslan
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b