[Autoimmune hemolytic anemia in chronic hepatitis C virus infection treated with alpha-interferon: a therapy-related event or extra-hepatic immunologic manifestation?]

Abstract

We report a case of Coombs' positive autoimmune haemolytic anaemia occurring in a patient with chronic hepatitis C virus infection, after five months of alpha-interferon administration. Prednisolone treatment induced a complete remission of both clinical and hematological findings after two months, while Coombs' tests became negative after three months. This points out the possibility of an additional unusual extrahepatic autoimmune feature during the course of hepatitis C virus infection.