THE DEVELOPMENT OF HEPATIC GRANULOMAS FOLLOWING INTERFERON-ALPHA-2B THERAPY FOR CHRONIC HEPATITIS-C INFECTION

Hepatic granulomas have been detected in cases of chronic hepatitis C virus (CHCV) infection. Here we report upon three selected cases of CH CV infection who were treated with IFN alpha, in whom hepatic granulom as were absent on initial liver biopsies, but in whom granulomas devel oped following IFN alpha therapy, In one case, complete regression of these granulomas was noted 17 months following discontinuation of trea tment, more strongly implicating IFN alpha in the aetiopathogenesis of such granulomas in this case. These findings suggest that IFN alpha m ay have a biological role in the pathogenesis of granulomatous liver d isease in these patients. All three cases were poor/non-responders to IFN alpha, suggesting that the development of hepatic granulomas durin g IFN alpha therapy may be associated with a poor response to treatmen t. (C) 1998 Lippincott-Raven Publishers.