Multisystem Sarcoidosis in a Patient on Interferon-α Therapy for Chronic Hepatitis C
- PMID: 22754249
- PMCID: PMC3385203
- DOI: 10.4103/0974-777X.96779
Multisystem Sarcoidosis in a Patient on Interferon-α Therapy for Chronic Hepatitis C
Abstract
Sarcoidosis is a chronic multisystemic granulomatous disease that is triggered by an autoimmune process. Nowadays, this pathology represents a well-recognized but uncommon complication for antiviral treatment in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Herein, we report a remarkable case of 47-year-old woman treated for chronic HCV infection; the patient has developed interferon alfa-induced sarcoidosis involving the central nervous system. The evolution was fatal despite disrupting the antiviral therapy and initiating a high-dose corticotherapy. This complication of interferon alfa treatment was reported in the literature in only one case. Through this case and a review of the literature, we aim to underline the importance of screening for sarcoidosis before and during the follow-up of HCV patients undergoing antiviral therapy.
Keywords: Chronic hepatitis C; Complication; Interferon alfa; Neurosarcoidosis; Treatment.
Conflict of interest statement
Figures
References
-
- Delaney P. Neurologic manifestations in sarcoidosis: Review of literature, with a report of 23 cases. Ann Intern Med. 1977;87:336–45. - PubMed
-
- Celik G, Sen E, Ulger AF, Kumbasar OO, Bozkaya H, Alper D, et al. Sarcoidosis caused by interferon therapy. Respirology. 2005;10:535–40. - PubMed
-
- Abdi EA, Nguyen GK, Ludwig RN, Dickout WJ. Pulmonary sarcoidosis following interferon therapy for advanced renal cell carcinoma. Cancer. 1987;59:896–900. - PubMed
-
- Hurst EA, Mauro T. Sarcoidosis associated with pegylated interferon alfa and ribavirin treatment for chronic hepatitis C: A case report and review of the literature. Arch Dermatol. 2005;141:865–8. - PubMed
-
- Miwa H, Furuya T, Tanaka S, Mizuno Y. Neurosarcoidosis associated with interferon therapy. Eur Neurol. 2001;45:288–9. - PubMed
