These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.
Pubmed for Handhelds
PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS
Search MEDLINE/PubMed
Title: Exacerbation of lichen planus during interferon alfa-2a therapy for chronic active hepatitis C. Author: Protzer U, Ochsendorf FR, Leopolder-Ochsendorf A, Holtermüller KH. Journal: Gastroenterology; 1993 Mar; 104(3):903-5. PubMed ID: 8440441. Abstract: A 66-year-old man was treated for chronic active hepatitis C with 3 MU of recombinant interferon alfa-2a three times weekly. Nine months before interferon therapy, a mild lichen planus had been diagnosed, which exacerbated within 4 weeks of treatment to a generalized erosive lichen planus. After 8 weeks, interferon therapy was stopped because local measures did not improve skin lesions. Otherwise, the patient tolerated interferon therapy well, and the initially 20-fold elevated aminotransferase levels returned to normal. Four weeks after discontinuation of interferon therapy, nearly all mucosal and skin lesions had disappeared. But 8 weeks after the discontinuation, aminotransferase levels again rose to 10 times the normal range. Treating physicians should know that a preexisting lichen planus will potentially exacerbate as a side effect of interferon alfa-2a therapy of a chronic hepatitis. However, because this is the first report on this association, further observations are needed to decide the clinical relevance.[Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]