Side effects of interferon therapy for chronic hepatitis C
Arase, Y.
Nihon Rinsho. Japanese Journal of Clinical Medicine 64(7): 1363-1367
2006
ISSN/ISBN: 0047-1852 PMID: 16838657 Document Number: 595400
A total of 3,882 Japanese patients with chronic hepatitis C were given interferon (IFN) alone or combination therapy of IFN and ribavirin. Two hundred sixty-one (7.7%) patients stopped IFN therapy due to the adverse events after initiation of IFN alone therapy. About a half of patients with side effect discontinued the IFN regimen due to owing to general fatigue, psychiatric disorder, thrombocytopenia, and leukopenia. On the other hand, 82 (16.2%) patients stopped combination therapy of IFN and ribavirin due to the adverse events. We should carefully observe the patients treated with IFN. If patients treated with IFN have IFN-related adverse effects, we should stop IFN therapy or reduce the dose of IFN.