Hashash JG, Tackett SA, McAdams DJ. Digital ischemic necrosis caused by pegylated interferon in a patient with hepatitis C.
World J Gastrointest Pharmacol Ther 2011;
2:6-8. [PMID:
21577311 PMCID:
PMC3091160 DOI:
10.4292/wjgpt.v2.i1.6]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2010] [Revised: 10/01/2010] [Accepted: 10/08/2010] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Pegylated interferon plus ribavirin remains the first-line treatment for patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV). Interferon α has the most extensive clinical application and is used for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus and hepatitis D virus as well as acute and chronic HCV infections. The attachment of polyethylene glycol to interferon increases its half-life by reducing the rate of absorption after injection, reducing renal and cellular clearance and also decreasing immunogenicity. In this case report, we have described a patient with chronic hepatitis C who developed ischemic necrosis of her fingertips after completing her third course of pegylated interferon and ribavirin. The patient underwent a very extensive workup in order to determine the underlying cause of her digital ischemia which was finally determined to be secondary to the use of pegylated interferon.
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