Pneumonitis as A Consequence of (Peg)Interferon-Ribavirin Combination Therapy for Hepatitis C: a Review of the Literature

[Guest guest]

Dig Dis Sci. 2009 Apr 28. [Epub ahead of print]

Pneumonitis as A Consequence of (Peg)Interferon-Ribavirin Combination Therapy

for Hepatitis C: a Review of the Literature.

Slavenburg S, Heijdra YF, Drenth JP.

Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Radboud University Nijmegen

Medical Center, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands,

S.Slavenburg@....

Combination of peginterferon and ribavirin is the current therapy for chronic

hepatitis C infection (HCV). Interstitial pneumonitis is a rare side-effect of

HCV therapy and is an important cause of dose reduction or discontinuation,

impairing success of antiviral therapy. We performed a review of the literature

in order to present diagnostic modalities and possible treatments for

pneumonitis and to offer guidelines. We searched for cases where pneumonitis as

a side-effect of HCV treatment was documented. First we performed a literature

search via PubMed and Web of Science interface and second we searched three drug

toxicity databases. We systematically analyzed all case reports with respect to

clinical manifestations, type of treatment, and outcome. A literature search

revealed 19 articles, containing 25 case descriptions, while we traced 33 cases

from the drug toxicity databases. Pneumonitis presented with any of the

combination of fever, dyspnea, and cough and can arise with any type of

(conventional or pegylated) interferon. Mortality secondary to pneumonitis was

seen in 7% of cases, exclusively with peginterferon alpha-2b. In most cases

therapy was discontinued and steroids were started. Interferon-induced

pneumonitis during HCV treatment is a severe complication and should be

recognized in order to prevent further pulmonary damage and/or death.

PMID: 19399621 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

[Guest guest]

Dig Dis Sci. 2009 Apr 28. [Epub ahead of print]

Pneumonitis as A Consequence of (Peg)Interferon-Ribavirin Combination Therapy

for Hepatitis C: a Review of the Literature.

Slavenburg S, Heijdra YF, Drenth JP.

Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Radboud University Nijmegen

Medical Center, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands,

S.Slavenburg@....

Combination of peginterferon and ribavirin is the current therapy for chronic

hepatitis C infection (HCV). Interstitial pneumonitis is a rare side-effect of

HCV therapy and is an important cause of dose reduction or discontinuation,

impairing success of antiviral therapy. We performed a review of the literature

in order to present diagnostic modalities and possible treatments for

pneumonitis and to offer guidelines. We searched for cases where pneumonitis as

a side-effect of HCV treatment was documented. First we performed a literature

search via PubMed and Web of Science interface and second we searched three drug

toxicity databases. We systematically analyzed all case reports with respect to

clinical manifestations, type of treatment, and outcome. A literature search

revealed 19 articles, containing 25 case descriptions, while we traced 33 cases

from the drug toxicity databases. Pneumonitis presented with any of the

combination of fever, dyspnea, and cough and can arise with any type of

(conventional or pegylated) interferon. Mortality secondary to pneumonitis was

seen in 7% of cases, exclusively with peginterferon alpha-2b. In most cases

therapy was discontinued and steroids were started. Interferon-induced

pneumonitis during HCV treatment is a severe complication and should be

recognized in order to prevent further pulmonary damage and/or death.

PMID: 19399621 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

[Guest guest]

Dig Dis Sci. 2009 Apr 28. [Epub ahead of print]

Pneumonitis as A Consequence of (Peg)Interferon-Ribavirin Combination Therapy

for Hepatitis C: a Review of the Literature.

Slavenburg S, Heijdra YF, Drenth JP.

Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Radboud University Nijmegen

Medical Center, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands,

S.Slavenburg@....

Combination of peginterferon and ribavirin is the current therapy for chronic

hepatitis C infection (HCV). Interstitial pneumonitis is a rare side-effect of

HCV therapy and is an important cause of dose reduction or discontinuation,

impairing success of antiviral therapy. We performed a review of the literature

in order to present diagnostic modalities and possible treatments for

pneumonitis and to offer guidelines. We searched for cases where pneumonitis as

a side-effect of HCV treatment was documented. First we performed a literature

search via PubMed and Web of Science interface and second we searched three drug

toxicity databases. We systematically analyzed all case reports with respect to

clinical manifestations, type of treatment, and outcome. A literature search

revealed 19 articles, containing 25 case descriptions, while we traced 33 cases

from the drug toxicity databases. Pneumonitis presented with any of the

combination of fever, dyspnea, and cough and can arise with any type of

(conventional or pegylated) interferon. Mortality secondary to pneumonitis was

seen in 7% of cases, exclusively with peginterferon alpha-2b. In most cases

therapy was discontinued and steroids were started. Interferon-induced

pneumonitis during HCV treatment is a severe complication and should be

recognized in order to prevent further pulmonary damage and/or death.

PMID: 19399621 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

[Guest guest]

Dig Dis Sci. 2009 Apr 28. [Epub ahead of print]

Pneumonitis as A Consequence of (Peg)Interferon-Ribavirin Combination Therapy

for Hepatitis C: a Review of the Literature.

Slavenburg S, Heijdra YF, Drenth JP.

Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Radboud University Nijmegen

Medical Center, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands,

S.Slavenburg@....

Combination of peginterferon and ribavirin is the current therapy for chronic

hepatitis C infection (HCV). Interstitial pneumonitis is a rare side-effect of

HCV therapy and is an important cause of dose reduction or discontinuation,

impairing success of antiviral therapy. We performed a review of the literature

in order to present diagnostic modalities and possible treatments for

pneumonitis and to offer guidelines. We searched for cases where pneumonitis as

a side-effect of HCV treatment was documented. First we performed a literature

search via PubMed and Web of Science interface and second we searched three drug

toxicity databases. We systematically analyzed all case reports with respect to

clinical manifestations, type of treatment, and outcome. A literature search

revealed 19 articles, containing 25 case descriptions, while we traced 33 cases

from the drug toxicity databases. Pneumonitis presented with any of the

combination of fever, dyspnea, and cough and can arise with any type of

(conventional or pegylated) interferon. Mortality secondary to pneumonitis was

seen in 7% of cases, exclusively with peginterferon alpha-2b. In most cases

therapy was discontinued and steroids were started. Interferon-induced

pneumonitis during HCV treatment is a severe complication and should be

recognized in order to prevent further pulmonary damage and/or death.

PMID: 19399621 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]