Severe autoimmune hemolytic anemia in a patient with chronic hepatitis C during treatment with peginterferon alfa-2a and ribavirin

Haematologica. 2006 Jun;91(6 Suppl):ECR26.

Abstract

Peginterferon (Peg-IFN) alfa in combination with ribavirin represents the gold standard treatment for chronic hepatitis C, but is associated with various side effects, especially hematological abnormalities. We report here a case of severe autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) complicated by symptomatic myocardial ischemia in a patient with chronic hepatitis C during combination therapy. The worsening hemolysis after ribavirin withdrawal and exclusion of other causes implicated Peg-IFN alfa as the cause of AIHA. Our study demonstrates that in patients without preexisting immunological abnormalities Peg-IFN can de novo induce autoimmune complications that, albeit rarely, may be life-threatening.

MeSH terms

  • Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune / blood
  • Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune / chemically induced*
  • Antiviral Agents / adverse effects*
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Hematocrit
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha / adverse effects*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Polyethylene Glycols / adverse effects*
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Ribavirin / adverse effects*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Ribavirin
  • peginterferon alfa-2a