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Korean J Hepatol. 2007;13(1):103-107. Published online January 1, 1970.
- Pulmonary Toxicity by Pegylated Interferon α-2a in a Patient with Chronic Hepatitis C
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- Abstract
- The combination therapy with pegylated interferon α and ribavirin has increasingly prescribed for chronic
hepatitis C. Although many side effects of interferon such as flu-like symptoms, gastrointestinal and
neuropsychiatric symptoms are well known, only several cases of interferon-induced pulmonary toxicity have
been reported. Interferon-induced pulmonary toxicity usually develops from 2 weeks to 12 weeks after
treatment for HCV infection. Diagnosis is commonly based on clinical findings such as a dry cough, dyspnea,
hypoxemia, and a restrictive pattern in pulmonary function testing, bilateral diffuse parenchymal infiltrations,
histopathological findings of interstitial pneumonitis, and exclusion of any other causative agents. Prompt
withdrawal of the drug is the cornerstone of treatment. We report a case of PEG-IFN α-2a induced pulmonary
toxicity in a 50-year-old male patient with hepatitis C. To our knowledge, this is the first case of pegylated
interferon α-2a induced pulmonary toxicity in Korea. (Korean J Hepatol 2007;13:103-107)
Keywords :Hepatitis C, chronic; Peginterferon alfa-2a; Toxicity; Adverse effects; Lung
