We present an unusual case of a patient with chronic hepatitis C who experienced dyspnea, fever, and cough after 2 1/2 months' treatment with interferon. His radiograph demonstrated diffuse pulmonary infiltrates and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid showed an increase in lymphocytes, especially CD8-positive cells. The lung biopsy findings were bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia (BOOP). Th...

A novel single stranded DNA virus, TT virus, associated with posttransfusion hepatitis was identified. The impact of the virus on development of chronic liver diseases and the susceptibility of the virus to interferon therapy has not been investigated. We retrospectively analyzed blood samples from 16 patients infected with both hepatitis C virus and TT virus who were treated by interferon. TT ...

The activities of the interferon-induced enzyme 2'-5' oligoadenylate synthetase in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were determined in patients with viral hepatitis. Increased levels of the enzyme were found in patients with acute type B hepatitis at the early phase and also in those with chronic type B hepatitis at the active stage. The levels of this enzyme activity were not significantly i...

BACKGROUND/AIMS Ophthalmologic side effects have been reported during interferon therapy, particularly retinal lesions and neurovisual impairment. The aim of this prospective study was to assess the nature and the frequency of such lesions during alpha-interferon therapy for viral hepatitis. METHODS Between 1995 and 2003, 156 patients treated with standard or pegylated alpha-interferon, with ...

BACKGROUND & AIMS : At least half of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) fail to respond to interferon or interferon/ribavirin therapy. Histological improvement is observed in some nonresponders. We conducted a randomized, controlled trial to determine if maintenance interferon therapy could prevent histological progression in this subset of nonresponders. METHODS Fifty-three patien...

Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) infects hepatocytes, the major cell type of the liver. Infection of the liver may be either transient or chronic. The prognosis for patients with chronic HDV infection is poor, with a high risk of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The best antiviral therapy is weekly administration for at least one year of high doses of interferon alpha. This efficacy of interf...

BACKGROUND Keloids are exuberant, disfiguring scars that result from an abnormal healing process. Current established treatment strategies include surgical resection, triamcinolone steroid injection, pressure therapy, silicone therapy, and radiotherapy. None of these therapies, either alone or in combination, offers consistent recurrence-free rates above 70 to 80 percent. The antiproliferative,...

Background and Aim: Transfusion-dependent thalassemia (TDT) patients are at a high risk for contracting chronic hepatitis C. High viral load, hyperferritinemia, previous treatment exposure likelihood of cirrhosis make this group difficult to treat. This study aimed evaluate the efficacy directly acting antivirals (DAAs) in treating C infection TDT patients. Methods: with detectable HCV RNA were...

OBJECTIVE To characterize thyroid disturbances induced by interferon-alpha and ribavirin therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C. INTRODUCTION Interferon-alpha is used to treat chronic hepatitis C infections. This compound commonly induces both autoimmune and non-autoimmune thyroiditis. METHODS We prospectively selected 26 patients with chronic hepatitis C infections. Clinical examinat...