Tongue and Skin Hyperpigmentation During PEG-Interferon-á/Ribavirin Therapy in D

[Guest guest]

The American Journal of Gastroenterology

Volume 101 Page 197 - January 2006

doi:10.1111/j.1572-0241.2005.00323.x

Volume 101 Issue 1

Tongue and Skin Hyperpigmentation During PEG-Interferon-á/Ribavirin Therapy

in Dark-Skinned Non-Caucasian Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C

Calin Gurguta, M.D.1, Clemens Kauer, M.D.2, Ulrike Bergholz, M.D.1,

beth Formann, M.D.1, Petra Steindl-Munda, M.D.1, and Ferenci,

M.D.1

Various skin disorders may occur during antiviral therapy with interferon

(IFN) and ribavirin (RBV) for chronic hepatitis C. This article describes to

our knowledge the first report of lingual hyperpigmentation during pegylated

(PEG)-IFN/RBV combination therapy in five dark-skinned hepatitis C virus

(HCV) patients. Lingual pigmentation during antiviral therapy was not

associated with age, gender, HCV genotype, doses of RBV, or duration of the

treatment or treatment outcome. Since IFN increases the expression of

á-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) surface receptors, the use of PEG-IFN

having a longer plasma half-life may even increase incidence for such

cutaneous side effects particularly in dark-skinned HCV patients.

(Am J Gastroenterol 2005;100:1–2

_________________________________________________________________

Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! Download today - it's FREE!

http://messenger.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200471ave/direct/01/