Hemolytic anemia during pegylated IFN-alpha2b plus ribavirin treatment for chronic hepatitis C: ribavirin is not always the culprit

J Interferon Cytokine Res. 2005 May;25(5):283-5. doi: 10.1089/jir.2005.25.283.

Abstract

A 53-year-old woman admitted to our department for histologically proven chronic hepatitis C had previously been treated with pegylated interferon-alpha2b (PEG-IFN) plus ribavirin. Combination therapy had been withdrawn after 5 weeks because of severe anemia (hemoglobin 8.2 g/dl) despite a reduction in ribavirin dose. A second liver biopsy showed moderate chronic hepatitis with portoportal and portocentral bridges (Ishak score: grading 14/18, staging 4-5/6). Consequently, the patient was retreated with 1.5 microg/kg body weight weekly PEG-IFN and 1000 mg/day ribavirin. Ribavirin was withdrawn about 3 months later because of anemia. After 1 month of PEG-IFN alone, hemoglobin had decreased further to reach 7.9 g/dl; consequently IFN was stopped. An elevated reticulocyte count, indirect bilirubin concentration, and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) concentration, and a positive direct Coombs test (IgG3, C3d also for panagglutinant irregular antibodies on eluate) led us to diagnose autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AHA). The patient received 1 mg/kg body weight/day prednisone, and all parameters normalized within 20 days. This is the first case of IFN-related AHA during PEG-IFN plus ribavirin therapy. Physicians should be aware that PEG-IFN can be the cause of AHA during a ribavirin-containing regimen for chronic hepatitis C.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune / diagnosis
  • Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune / etiology*
  • Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune / immunology
  • Antiviral Agents / administration & dosage
  • Antiviral Agents / adverse effects*
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha / administration & dosage
  • Interferon-alpha / adverse effects*
  • Middle Aged
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Ribavirin / administration & dosage
  • Ribavirin / adverse effects*

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Ribavirin
  • peginterferon alfa-2b