[A case with chronic hepatitis C who developed liver cirrhosis due to liver dysfunction caused by pegylated interferon plus ribavirin treatment despite negativity of serum HCV RNA, during therapy]

Nihon Shokakibyo Gakkai Zasshi. 2011 Feb;108(2):267-74.
[Article in Japanese]

Abstract

We report a case of chronic hepatitis C in whom liver cirrhosis was later diagnosed following abnormality of ALT levels during pegylated interferon α2a and ribavirin treatment. A 62-year-old woman with chronic hepatitis C was treated with pegylated interferon α2a plus ribavirin for 72 weeks. Her HCV RNA became negative 16 weeks after the start of treatment and continued to be negative for most of the treatment duration. Her AST/ALT, ALP/γ-GTP levels became elevated soon after the initiation of treatment and thereafter remained unchanged. However, most of these levels normalized after the end of treatment. Post-treatment liver biopsy showed liver cirrhosis, probably due to the interferon treatment itself. This unusual therapeutic outcome should be considered if the levels of hepatic dysfunction during interferon treatment are severe.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / etiology*
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Hepacivirus / genetics
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / complications*
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / drug therapy*
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / virology
  • Humans
  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha / administration & dosage*
  • Interferon-alpha / adverse effects*
  • Liver Cirrhosis / chemically induced*
  • Middle Aged
  • Polyethylene Glycols / administration & dosage*
  • Polyethylene Glycols / adverse effects*
  • RNA, Viral / blood
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Ribavirin / administration & dosage*
  • Ribavirin / adverse effects*

Substances

  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha
  • RNA, Viral
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Ribavirin
  • peginterferon alfa-2a