title: Severe agranulocytosis as a rare side effect of pegylated interferon therapy for chronic hepatitis B.
abstract: We report on a 19-year-old male patient with chronic HBeAg-positive hepatitis B-infection and agranulocytosis as a severe side effect of pegylated interferon alpha therapy. Within the first six months of therapy the hepatitis B virus DNA became undetectable in parallel with a significant decrease of the HBsAg serum concentration. After a six-month course of therapy the patient was admitted to our emergency unit. He appeared significantly ill and reported that he had fever for two days, painful oral mucosa, throat pain and general fatigue and discomfort. A complete blood cell count was performed and revealed a complete agranulocytosis with no detectable neutrophilic granulocytes in the blood smear. Antiviral therapy was immediately stopped and he was admitted to our clinic where a supportive therapy and an empirical course of broadband antibiotics were initiated. A few days later an additional treatment with intravenous prednisolone was started. Within the next week the agranulocytosis resolved and the neutrophil count was completely restored. In parallel, the clinical status improved quickly. This case demonstrates the need for our awareness of agranulocytosis as a rare but severe and potentially life-threatening side effect of interferon alpha therapy.
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine I, University of Ulm. eugen.zizer@uniklinik-ulm.de
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zizer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bommer
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Barth
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dikopoulos
mesh_terms: D000380:Agranulocytosis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a