Interstitial Pneumonitis in a Patient with Chronic Hepatitis C and Chronic Renal Failure on Interferon Therapy.
- Author:
Eun Jung KANG
1
;
Dong Kyun KIM
;
Seong Ran JEON
;
Hyun Sook CHOI
;
Soung Won JEONG
;
Jae Young JANG
;
Joon Seong LEE
;
Soo Taek UH
Author Information
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords: Chronic hepatitis C; Interferon; Chronic renal failure; Interstitial pneumonitis
- MeSH: Antiviral Agents/*adverse effects/therapeutic use; Bronchoalveolar Lavage; Female; Hepatitis C, Chronic/complications/*drug therapy; Humans; Interferon-alpha/*adverse effects/therapeutic use; Kidney Failure, Chronic/complications; Lung Diseases, Interstitial/*chemically induced/pathology/radiography; Middle Aged; Respiratory Function Tests; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
- From:The Korean Journal of Gastroenterology 2011;58(1):47-52
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: After 4-months of alpha interferon (IFN-alpha), a 64-year old woman with chronic hepatitis C developed a cough and dyspnea and showed diffuse infiltrative opacities on her chest X-ray. Her symptoms persisted after stopping the IFN-alpha therapy. Pulmonary function testing revealed a reduced forced vital capacity. High-resolution computed tomography of the lung showed peripheral and peribronchovascular ground glass attenuation and consolidation associated with reticulation. Bronchoalveolar lavage was performed for further evaluation and showed a lymphocyte level of 8.2%, an uncommon finding in IFN-alpha-induced interstitial pneumonitis. We performed a lung biopsy to diagnose her disease and it suggested interstitial pneumonitis. This was considered to be due to the immunomodulatory effects of INF-alpha. Although rare, any sign of significant pulmonary involvement should be evaluated.
