Pleural Effusion and Interstitial Pneumonitis after SOC for HCV

Simultaneous Occurrence of Pleural Effusion and Interstitial Pneumonitis after Treatment with Pegylated Interferon for Hepatitis C Virus Infection

"Abstract

Combination of pegylated interferon and ribavirin has been the standard program for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Pulmonary complications, although uncommon, have been reported in association with the use of interferon, and pleural effusion is rare. We report the second case of pleural effusion and interstitial pneumonitis in a patient treated with pegylated interferon and ribavirin for chronic HCV infection. The respiratory symptoms of our patient continued to progress even though the treatment with pegylated interferon had been withdrawn, but the symptoms improved dramatically following treatment with steroids...."

"Conclusion

Pulmonary toxicity is an exceptional but unanticipated complication of (pegylated) IFN/ribavirin treatment of HCV infection. Clinicians should be aware of the potential pulmonary complication related to the drug so that an early and opportune diagnosis can be made. Once evidence of pulmonary injury is demonstrated, therapy should be withdrawn immediately, and steroids may be administered if symptoms deteriorate progressively."

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/736750

[willbb]

Just one more reason that hopefully in the future INF.can be taken out of the mix.

  Thx for the article...

WILL

[Willy50]

Mike, I lost a customer to interstitial pneumonitis about 2 years ago.

They had been home a lot that summer, by mid summer I was informed of it,  then was told  that they were not satisfied w/local TX of the issue and were going to a better hospital.  I attended her funeral in October, if memory serves.  They seemed to go from impaired to on life support in about 4 months.

When you get diagnosed with this, there is but one prognosis.  The only question is how long?  Essentially her immune system attacked her lungs, and in a short period of time they were rendered useless.

She was a great lady and gone way too soon.

willy

[paen53]

I don't know if this relates to an event that I had soon after tx - within the first week or two. I quickly developed what I thought was bronchitis - low grade fever, heaviness in chest, general malaise. Within days I stated to feel extremely sick, even worse than on tx - SOB becoming markedly worse, chest pain. Liver Dr. urged me to seek help close to home, went to Urgent Care, transferred to ER, ran chest X-ray and labs, left with a dx of "walking pneumonia" and an Rx for a potent antibiotic. I did feel better within days of taking the meds, but it scared me to bits. I remember feeling that I made it thru tx only to kick the bucket at EOT, I felt that bad.

[djbn13]

I know how you felt, people with copd feel that way pretty much all the time. That is why it's such great news about inf maybe "old-school" soon.