A Case of Interstitial Pneumonitis and Pancytopenia Following the Combination Therapy of Pegylated Interferon and Ribavirin.

Suh, Ji Hyun; Hahn, Sung Hwahn; Lee, Ji Eun; Han, Jin Hyung; Kim, Kyung Mook; Kim, Doh Hyung; Kim, Yon Seop; Park, Jae Suk; Jee, Young Koo

doi:2011.70.1.69

Tuberc Respir Dis > Volume 70(1); 2011 > Article

Case Report

Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases 2011;70(1):69-73.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4046/trd.2011.70.1.69 Published online January 1, 2011.

A Case of Interstitial Pneumonitis and Pancytopenia Following the Combination Therapy of Pegylated Interferon and Ribavirin.

Ji Hyun Suh, Sung Hwahn Hahn, Ji Eun Lee, Jin Hyung Han, Kyung Mook Kim, Doh Hyung Kim, Yon Seop Kim, Jae Suk Park, Young Koo Jee

Department of Internal Medicine, Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan, Korea. kimkm76@naver.com

Abstract

The combination therapy of pegylated interferon and ribavirin is the mainstay of treatment for chronic hepatitis C patients. Anti-viral therapy is commonly associated with side effects such as headache, fever, myalgia, and arthralgia. However, anti-viral therapy can continue because these side effects are mostly mild and can be improved with supportive management. Anti-viral therapy should be stopped promptly if serious side effects, such as interstitial pneumonitis or hemolytic anemia occur, although those serious side effects are rare. There were a few case reports of interferon-related interstitial pneumonitis worldwide. In Korea, one atypical case report of interstitial pneumonitis has been reported, which followed the combination therapy of interferon-alpha and ribavirin in a patient with chronic hepatitis C. We present a case of interstitial pneumonitis and pancytopenia following the combination therapy of pegylated interferon and ribavirin in a patient with chronic hepatitis C.

Key Words: Hepatitis C, Chronic, peginterferon alfa-2a, Ribavirin, Pancytopenia, Interstitial Lung Diseases