Pleural effusion associated with pegylated interferon alpha and ribavirin treatment for chronic hepatitis C

Abstract

Lung toxicity related to interferon (IFN) alpha typically takes a form of interstitial pneumonitis, granulomatous inflammation, or organizing pneumonia. We report a case of a 52-year-old woman, who developed pneumonitis with exudative, lymphocytic-predominant pleural effusion following treatment with pegylated IFN alpha and ribavirin for hepatitis C. Her symptoms and lung findings resolved over 3 months of observation without corticosteroid therapy.