Side effects of antiviral therapy in hepatitis C virus infection-sarcoidosis - case report

Rev Med Chir Soc Med Nat Iasi. 2012 Oct-Dec;116(4):1039-43.

Abstract

Standard therapy in chronic hepatitis C virus infection is still a combination of peginterferon alfa2a/2b and ribavirin for 48 weeks. As of side effects, there are organic side effects, such as hematologic disorders, and functional side effects, reflected in the quality of life of hepatitis C patients. Up to 30% of the patients develop specific side effects such as headache, fever, fatigue. Sarcoidosis, known as a granulomatous disease of uncertain cause, is an uncommon finding in this category of patients. This cause-effect relation is accounted for by the convergent action of peginterferon and ribavirin of stimulating type 1 T helper cells and reducing type 2 helper T cells activation. We present the case of male patient known with chronic hepatitis C who developed pulmonary sarcoidosis following antiviral therapy. The first manifestation of the disease was unexplained fever accompanied by pulmonary tract disease. The diagnosis was established by immunophenotyping in bronchial aspirate

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antiviral Agents / administration & dosage
  • Antiviral Agents / adverse effects*
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Glucocorticoids / therapeutic use
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / complications*
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Interferon-alpha / administration & dosage
  • Interferon-alpha / adverse effects*
  • Male
  • Polyethylene Glycols / administration & dosage
  • Polyethylene Glycols / adverse effects*
  • Prednisone / therapeutic use
  • Recombinant Proteins / administration & dosage
  • Recombinant Proteins / adverse effects
  • Ribavirin / administration & dosage
  • Ribavirin / adverse effects*
  • Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary / chemically induced*
  • Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary / diagnosis
  • Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary / drug therapy
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

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