Risk of lung damage from Hep C treatment

Someone I know has Hep C and has been receiving Pegasys/Rib treatment for 10 weeks.  She has a history of lung problems, pnemonia (pneumonia), emphyzema, (sp?) etc.  While taking the treatment, she developed a mucus plug and was labouring to breath for several weeks for test results to come in and for the medication to be issued.  Apparently, she had a very low hemoglobin (sp?) and it was causing stress on her lungs.  She was also informed that there was some issue with her heart (a stiffening of her valve)  This was not there post treatment.  Sorry for the sketchy info.   In anycase, after she was given the med. to bring her hemo up, she was able to clear her lungs and her breathing is getting better.  Now, however, she is thinkng about stopping the treatment because she is concerned that it may cause lasting damage to her lungs and heart.    Can anyone speak to this, please?

[FlGuy]

Of course she should get a medical opinion.  But, it sounds like she had/has hemolytic anemia encourgaged by the treatment meds. The med she was probably given was Procrit or some type of epo (google them).  Many people on treatment become anemic and it produces the symptons (fatigue, lack of energy, easily breath-deprived) you mention.  Before treatment, many doctors do a thorough evaluation to make sure a person is able to undergo the sometimes tough rigor of treatment.   However, other pre-existing conditions need to be considered as well.

Procrit/epo takes a couple/few weeks to work and it's not a one-shot fix.  People who become anemic on treatment usually need to have Procrit/epo continually to the conclusion of treatment. And the stuff really does work, almost miracle-like.

Depending on the progress of treatment (a good and mantained viral response) it may be worthwhile continuing absent any serious adverse events from those other conditions.  Although she may fear lasting lung and heart damage she should also consider possible lasting liver damge if she does not eliminate hcv.  HCV is a good thing to get rid of.

[newleaf09]

She should get a chest X-ray.  Interferon can cause lung problems and some doctors require a chest x-ray before starting TX just to have a baseline on a patient before treating them.  It's a cheap easy way to rule Interferon-related problems out.  Only the treating doctor should decide if TX needs to be stopped for safety reason.

[JennyPenny]

I have two acquaintances who had trouble with treatment involving their lungs. I am not familiar with either one's medical history however one of them had a lung problem that was significantly worsened and one developed a lung problem on treatment. They both have been off interferon for years and are no better. So, it can happen and needs to be taken seriously. A pulmonologist needs to be monitoring these patients,

[Bigbadjohn]

Thanks all, for the info.  It gives us something to work with.

[nygirl7]

, she had a very low hemoglobin (sp?) and it was causing stress on her lungs"

Yes I believe this is the problem right here.

I personally have never heard of anyone developing lung problems
from being on treatment before but this problem with hemoglobin is COMMON and of course it would be much worse to suffer the anemia if you already had preexisting type injuries you know?.  I do agree with FLGuy, get a real medical opinion but hemolytic anemia is a well known cause of MUCH lung distress because less oxygen is circulating within your blood - so you suffer symptoms from lightheadness to fainting, difficulty breathing to wheezing like crazy.

The Procrit should fix the situation but it can take from 2 - 6 weeks to work (generally does in about 3 I believe).

Also, if you can look on your friends blood work and look for the HGB number that should be a good indicator.  The generally prescribe Procrit when the number  gets under 10 - but patients feel horrible well before that number believe me.  It's very expensive so they are very stingy with it but it WORKS.

[feather857]

Here is a story to tell your friend.......  I have been off tx since June.  My quant. level went up, not down.  But I am going to start a new tx soon. (hopefully)  Had a physical last week - bllod work fair (not liver functions, just other routine work)  EKG good, urine good, chest x ray good.  Then 3 days later the nurse called to tell me I needed to have a chest CAT Scan done immediatley.  I had it done (nurse said it was due to fluid in my lungs) and was absolutely petrified of what they might find.  That evening the nurse called me back to tell me it was "shadow on the film" and there is not one thing wrong with my heart or lungs.  I was too relieved to even be ticked off at them for putting me through it.  My point to this story is my lungs/heart were good and that was after 6 months on interferon TX.  So there is hope!

[becksta29]

ditto to nygirl and flguy.
now il add my bit,i too have anemia from tx and its very common so im not worried,so she should definitly not just jump off tx cos it will most likely get better when she finishes tx,and i to have never heard of any1 gettin lung and heart probs after tx.
definitly get it checked proply.

[it'sallgood]

Significant pulmonary toxicity associated with interferon and ribavirin therapy for hepatitis C

http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/118937806/abstract