The association of interferon with the development of pulmonary tuberculosis

Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2007 Nov;45(11):598-600. doi: 10.5414/cpp45598.

Abstract

We report a new case of a patient suffering from chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and treated with interferon-alpha2a (IFN-alpha) who presented with the diagnosis of active pulmonary tuberculosis. Interferon was stopped and appropriate treatment with antituberculous drugs initiated. Several weeks later the patient was free of clinical symptoms. Our case demonstrates a rare association between interferon and tuberculosis since only one case in the literature has described a similar association.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antitubercular Agents / therapeutic use
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha / adverse effects*
  • Interferon-alpha / therapeutic use
  • Male
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / chemically induced*
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / diagnosis
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / drug therapy
  • Withholding Treatment

Substances

  • Antitubercular Agents
  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha
  • Recombinant Proteins