 |
| Research article summary (published 19 Apr 2009): |
[Peripheral polyneuropathy and bilateral optic neuropathy during treatment of chronic hepatitis C]
(Periphere Polyneuropathie und beidseitige Optikusneuropathie unter Behandlung einer chronischen Hepatitis C.)
Full Abstract
HISTORY AND CLINICAL FINDINGS: A 54-year-old female patient with recently confirmed chronic hepatitis C, genotype Ib and positive HCV-RNA was admitted for interferon induction therapy. EXAMINATIONS: Physical examination findings were normal. Ultrasound examination of the abdomen revealed slightly compacted liver structure with otherwise no pathological findings. Laboratory results showed marginally increased GPT value at 46 U/l with HCV-RNA of 769,000 U/ml. All other laboratory results were within the reference range. There was no indication for autoantibodies. THERAPY AND COURSE: After one-week induction therapy with interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha2a) plus ribavirin and amantadine, maintenance therapy with pegylated interferon-alpha (PEG-IFN-alpha2a) plus ribavirin and amantadine was initiated. Complete virus elimination was achieved after two and a half months. Five months after onset of therapy, painful peripheral neuropathy of the limbs occured and after one more month, severe vision impairment with opticus neuropathy and bilateral papilledema developed. Simultaneously, peripheral polyneuropathy progressed with additional motoric deficits. Interferon therapy was terminated and the patient received high-dose corticosteroids which resulted in an improvement of neuropathic complaints. Eight months later, only discrete bilateral vision impairment with optic nerve atrophy remained. CONCLUSION: Side effects occurring with interferon-alpha therapy and pegylated interferon-alpha therapy are generally low and well tolerated. However, in individual cases - as in our patient - side effects including severe peripheral neuropathy and optic neuropathy have been observed. In these cases, interferon therapy must be terminated immediately as severe damage of nerves may result.
Author information
Author/s: Chrissafidou, A (A); Musch, E (E);
Affiliation: Abteilung für Innere Medizin, Marienhospital Bottrop. achrissaf(-atsign-)web.de
Journal and publication information
Publication Type: Case Reports; English Abstract; Journal Article
Journal: Deutsche medizinische Wochenschrift (1946) (Dtsch Med Wochenschr), published in Germany. (Language: ger)
Reference: 2009-Apr; vol 134 (issue 18) : pp 927-30
Dates: Created 2009/04/22; Completed 2009/04/28;
PMID: 19384811, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 4/28/2009, IMS Date: )
Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.
External Links for this article
(including full text providers, if available):
Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.
This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.
MeSH headings (categories)
This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.
Related articles
This article has not been indexed for related articles as yet, however you can still use the live related article search links below.
See a large map of 100+ related articles.