Reactions 832 - 16 Dec 2000

★Interferon-α-2a

First report of capillaritis: case reportA 36-year-old man developed capillaritis during treatment

with interferon-α-2a for chronic hepatitis associated withhepatitis C virus infection.

Five days after starting SC interferon-α-2a at a dosage of6MU 3 times weekly, the man developed a pigmentedpurpuric eruption over his legs and feet. Over the next 3weeks, the eruption spread to his thighs, buttocks, abdomenand shoulders. The eruption was consistent with capillaritis (apigmented purpuric dermatosis). A skin biopsy showed aperivascular lymphocytic infiltrate in the superficial dermis.Extravasation of RBCs and swelling of endothelial cells wasalso seen, consistent with lymphocytic vasculitis.

The man’s eruption gradually improved over the following 8weeks and resolved, despite continued treatment withinterferon-α-2a. He stopped interferon-α-2a after 12 weeks oftreatment. He did not experience any recurrence of capillaritisduring an 8-month follow-up period.

Author comment: ‘We consider that the skin eruption in ourpatient occurred as a result of IFN-α [interferon-α] treatment,in view of the strong temporal association of the onset of therash with the commencement of IFN-α therapy.’Gupta G, et al. Capillaritis associated with interferon-alfa treatment of chronichepatitis C infection. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 43 (Spec.issue): 937-938, Nov 2000 - Scotland 800851237

» Editorial comment: A search of AdisBase and Medline didnot reveal any previous case reports of capillaritis associatedwith interferon-α-2a therapy.

1

Reactions 16 Dec 2000 No. 8320114-9954/10/0832-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved