Granulomatous hepatitis in a patient with chronic hepatitis C treated with interferon-alpha

Dig Dis Sci. 1997 Jul;42(7):1445-8. doi: 10.1023/a:1018806508474.

Abstract

Common adverse effects of IFN-alpha include flulike symptoms, headache, irritability, and bone marrow suppression. Hepatic side effects are unusual except in patients with pretreatment autoimmune hepatitis. Granuloma formation in the liver as a result of IFN-alpha therapy has never been reported. We described a 48-year-old female with chronic hepatitis C infection who developed granulomatous hepatitis following treatment with IFN-alpha. The granulomatous inflammation resolved after discontinuation of IFN-alpha treatment. Possible mechanisms for this unusual occurrence are discussed.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antiviral Agents / adverse effects*
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use
  • Biopsy
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / etiology*
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / pathology
  • Female
  • Granuloma / etiology*
  • Granuloma / pathology
  • Hepatitis C / therapy*
  • Hepatitis, Chronic / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha / adverse effects*
  • Interferon-alpha / therapeutic use
  • Liver / pathology
  • Middle Aged
  • Recombinant Proteins

Substances

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