Reactions 1297 - 17 Apr 2010

Interferon α-2b

Hypersensitivity in an elderly patient, managedwith desensitisation: case report

A 65-year-old man developed hypersensitivity duringtreatment with interferon α-2b [PDferon]; subsequentdesensitisation was successful.

The man had chronic hepatitis C (genotype 1b), withmoderate activity and advanced fibrosis. He begantreatment including interferon α-2b [dosage not stated].Following the first administration of interferon α-2b, hedeveloped a maculopapular rash, low-grade fever andsevere itching [time to reaction onset not stated].

Interferon α-2b was subsequently stopped, and the manwas diagnosed with hypersensitivity to interferon.However, since there were no other treatment optionsavailable, he underwent desensitisation. On the first day,interferon α-2b was administered subcutaneously everyhour, starting at 3IU and increasing to 3000IU per dose,over 13 hours for a cumulative dose for the day of24 666IU. The second day, interferon α-2b was againadministered every hour, this time starting at 300IU andincreasing to 300 000IU per dose, over 7 hours for acumulative dose for the day of 1 266 000IU. From day 3until the end of the first week, he received interferon α-2b1 500 000 IU/day in the morning, and from the secondweek until the end of treatment (week 54), he receivedinterferon α-2b 3 000 000IU every other day. The onlyobserved reaction was a mild generalised pruritus,occurring at the start of day 2, which responded toIM diphenhydramine. At the end of treatment, repeatedtests indicated the eradication of HCV.Taghavi SA, et al. Successful interferon desensitization in a patient with chronichepatitis C infection. World Journal of Gastroenterology 15: 4196-4198, No. 33, 7Sep 2009. Available from: URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3748/wjg.15.4196 -Iran 803010743

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Reactions 17 Apr 2010 No. 12970114-9954/10/1297-0001/$14.95 © 2010 Adis Data Information BV. All rights reserved