Interferon-α-2b
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Reactions 698 - 25 Apr 1998 Interferon-α-2b Skin necrosis: case report A 62-year-old man developed skin necrosis during treatment with interferon-α-2b for chronic hepatitis C infection. The patient was included in an interferon dose-escalation trial and began treatment with interferon-α-2b 3MU 3 times weekly for 6 months, increasing gradually to 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13MU 3 times weekly. Two weeks after the man’s dosage was increased to 5MU 3 times weekly, he noted a rash on his abdomen. This was diagnosed as ‘waistband dermatitis’ and responded to treatment with topical corticosteroids. He then experienced cutaneous pain on the right side of his abdomen shortly after his dosage of interferon-α-2b was increased to 11MU 3 times weekly. Over the next 3 weeks an ulcerated lesion developed at the injection site on the man’s right lower abdomen. This ulcer remained unhealed despite antibacterial therapy and became necrotic, requiring debridement. Another lesion on the other side of his abdomen also appeared. According to the treatment protocol, the patient’s dosage of interferon-α-2b was increased to 13MU 3 times weekly. Two weeks later, therapy was discontinued and his lesions healed immediately. Author comment: Cutaneous necrosis after SC interferon has been seen in patients with multiple sclerosis, chronic myelogenous leukaemia, chronic hepatitis B infection and AIDS-related Kaposi’s sarcoma. However, this is the first reported case of cutaneous necrosis associated with interferon therapy in a patient with chronic hepatitis C infection. Sickler JB, et al. Cutaneous necrosis associated with interferon alpha-2b. American Journal of Gastroenterology 93: 463-464, Mar 1998 - USA 800659278 1 Reactions 25 Apr 1998 No. 698 0114-9954/10/0698-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved
Transcript of Interferon-α-2b
Reactions 698 - 25 Apr 1998
Interferon-α-2b
Skin necrosis: case reportA 62-year-old man developed skin necrosis during
treatment with interferon-α-2b for chronic hepatitis Cinfection.
The patient was included in an interferon dose-escalationtrial and began treatment with interferon-α-2b 3MU 3 timesweekly for 6 months, increasing gradually to 5, 7, 9, 11 and13MU 3 times weekly. Two weeks after the man’s dosage wasincreased to 5MU 3 times weekly, he noted a rash on hisabdomen. This was diagnosed as ‘waistband dermatitis’ andresponded to treatment with topical corticosteroids. He thenexperienced cutaneous pain on the right side of his abdomenshortly after his dosage of interferon-α-2b was increased to11MU 3 times weekly.
Over the next 3 weeks an ulcerated lesion developed at theinjection site on the man’s right lower abdomen. This ulcerremained unhealed despite antibacterial therapy and becamenecrotic, requiring debridement. Another lesion on the otherside of his abdomen also appeared.
According to the treatment protocol, the patient’s dosage ofinterferon-α-2b was increased to 13MU 3 times weekly. Twoweeks later, therapy was discontinued and his lesions healedimmediately.
Author comment: Cutaneous necrosis after SC interferonhas been seen in patients with multiple sclerosis, chronicmyelogenous leukaemia, chronic hepatitis B infection andAIDS-related Kaposi’s sarcoma. However, this is the firstreported case of cutaneous necrosis associated with interferontherapy in a patient with chronic hepatitis C infection.Sickler JB, et al. Cutaneous necrosis associated with interferon alpha-2b. AmericanJournal of Gastroenterology 93: 463-464, Mar 1998 - USA 800659278
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Reactions 25 Apr 1998 No. 6980114-9954/10/0698-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved
