The treatment of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) has evolved in the past 15 years and combination of pegylated interferon plus ribavirin is its current standard therapy. However, several side effects are commonly observed and frequently lead to transient or definitive interruption of treatment. Although sarcoidosis in its systemic or cutaneous form is a very rare side effect in such circumstances, so...

BACKGROUND Any benefit of adjuvant interferon alfa-2b for melanoma could depend on dose and duration of treatment. Our aim was to determine whether pegylated interferon alfa-2b can facilitate prolonged exposure while maintaining tolerability. METHODS 1256 patients with resected stage III melanoma were randomly assigned to observation (n=629) or pegylated interferon alfa-2b (n=627) 6 mug/kg pe...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Patients with high-risk essential thrombocythemia require cytoreductive therapy in order to normalize the elevated platelet counts. We evaluated the efficacy and toxicity of pegylated interferon in high-risk essential thrombocythemia in a phase II trial. DESIGN AND METHODS Thirty-six patients with high-risk essential thrombocythemia (median age 54 years; range, 24-72...

A 49-year-old man with cirrhosis due to hepatitis C virus developed interstitial pneumonitis documented by surgical lung biopsy specimen evaluation after two weekly doses of pegylated interferon-alpha(2)b in combination with ribavirin. He developed ARDS and died after 26 days of hospitalization from multisystem organ failure. This case suggests that interstitial pulmonary disease can occur with...

BACKGROUND Hepatitis C is an epidemic worldwide since discovery in 1989. Conventional interferon alpha-2b plus Ribavirin therapy was started in 1998 but over all sustained viral response (SVR) rates are much below the desired rates to eradicate the diseases and stopping its epidemic. This study was conducted to access the therapeutic and cost-effectiveness of long acting pegylated interferon al...

We evaluated the prophylactic and therapeutic efficacy of interferon alpha-2b, pegylated interferon alpha-2b, poly(I. C), and Ampligen against Modoc virus encephalitis in an animal model for flavivirus infections. All compounds significantly delayed virus-induced morbidity (paralysis) and mortality (due to progressive encephalitis). Viral load (as measured on day 7 postinfection) was significan...

CASE REPORT We describe two patients with chronic hepatitis C, treated with pegylated interferon and ribavirin, who developed multiple cotton-wool spots in the retina of both eyes. The ocular findings were identified as pegylated interferon associated retinopathy, and in one case spontaneously resolved and in the other after the treatment was withdrawn. DISCUSSION Interferon is an immunomodul...

BACKGROUND The prevalence of hepatitis-C is on the rise in Pakistan. Treatment of chronic hepatitis-C with pegylated interferon is expensive as compared to standard interferon. The objective of the study was to find out the end treatment response rate with standard interferon and ribavirin. METHODOLOGy: This case series study was conducted in Ayub Teaching Hospital Abbottabad.and Orush General ...

Pegylated interferon α and ribavirin in treatment of chronic hepatitis C in children is used rarely. The aim of the study was to find prognostic factors for sustained virological response and to analyze the safety of pegylated interferon α2a and ribavirin in children with chronic hepatitis C. The study covered a group of 44 children, mean age 14 years, with diagnosed chronic hepatitis C. Clinic...

We report the case of a 50-year-old male patient with a rare profile: bronchial casts associated with the use of pegylated interferon and ribavirin. The patient sought treatment in a pulmonology clinic with a history of progressive dyspnea for four months that had evolved to progressive cough followed by frequent and abundant elimination of bronchial casts. The patient was initially treated wit...