SIDE-EFFECTS OF HIGH-DOSE INTERFERON THERAPY FOR CHRONIC HEPATITIS-C

Background/Aims: Various side effects have been reported in patients t reated with alpha interferon, but their incidence and prognosis remain unknown, Methods: Nine hundred and eighty-seven patients with chronic active hepatitis C received 6 to 10 MU of alpha interferon per day fo r 2 weeks and 3 times per week for 22 weeks, Autoantibodies, thyroid f unction tests, and fasting plasma glucose concentrations were evaluate d prior to alpha interferon therapy, Results: Of the 987 patients, 310 were required reduction in the dose of alpha interferon to 3 MU/day o r cessation of alpha interferon therapy because of adverse reactions s uch as flu-like symptoms, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia, Of the rem aining 677, five developed diabetes mellitus, 12 had hyperthyroidism, and six acquired hypothyroidism, Of the 18 with thyroid disorders, fiv e demonstrated antimicrosomal antibodies before therapy, Forty-four pa tients revealed high or low concentrations of thyroid stimulating horm one at the end of alpha interferon therapy, Three patients developed i nterstitial pneumonia, one acquired systemic lupus erythematosus-like syndrome, two had autoimmune hepatitis, two developed rheumatoid arthr itis, and one developed autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura, No patien ts had a history of an autoimmune disorder, One patient experienced su dden hearing impairment and one had retinal detachment, Melena was see n in three patients; two of these cases were compatible with ischemic colitis, Symptoms of depression were seen in 23 patients, and one pati ent manifested memory loss, Conclusion: High-dose alpha interferon the rapy induces various adverse effects, Most of the side effects cannot be predicted, but are reversible.