Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease associated with interferon alpha-2b/ribavirin combination therapy

J Viral Hepat. 2003 Nov;10(6):467-70. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2893.2003.00456.x.

Abstract

The complex immunological effects of interferon and ribavirin therapy (IFN/R) in hepatitis C virus (HCV) may also exacerbate or trigger the de novo development of autoimmunity. We report the first case of IFN/R therapy associated with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease, a T-cell-mediated autoimmune response to melanocytes. This condition, which has characteristic ocular, neurological and integumentary findings, elicits a systemic prodrome that may mimic side-effect profile and delay of IFN or mask its recognition. We discuss this disease in the context of the known immunomodulatory effects of IFN-alpha and ribavirin and suggest potential mechanistic explanations for the association.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antiviral Agents / adverse effects*
  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Hepatitis C / complications
  • Hepatitis C / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha / adverse effects*
  • Interferon-alpha / pharmacology
  • Interferon-alpha / therapeutic use
  • Middle Aged
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Ribavirin / adverse effects*
  • Ribavirin / pharmacology
  • Ribavirin / therapeutic use
  • Uveomeningoencephalitic Syndrome / chemically induced*

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Ribavirin