title: A case of irreversible leukoencephalopathy in a patient with C virus hepatitis treated with pegylated interferon-alpha-2b and ribavirin.
abstract: We describe the case of a patient with C chronic hepatitis and early virological response on pegylated-interferon-alpha based therapy who presented clinical manifestations and magnetic resonance imaging suggestive for toxic leukoencephalopathy after 5 months of treatment. The negative results for neurotropic infectious agents and autoimmune markers opened the discussion of toxic interferon-induced leukoencephalopathy as a rare, but threatening neurologic side effect of this therapy.
authors.forename: Simona A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Iacob
authors.forename: Ana Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Petrescu
authors.forename: Diana G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Iacob
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007968:Leukoencephalopathy, Progressive Multifocal / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b