Onset of inflammatory bowel diseases during combined alpha-interferon and ribavirin therapy for chronic hepatitis C: report of two cases.

We report two patients who developed an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) shortly after beginning combined alpha-interferon and ribavirin treatment for HCV-related chronic hepatitis. The previous clinical history was negative for IBD in both patients, who developed diarrhoea and rectal bleeding 10 days and 6 months, respectively, after the initiation of therapy. The history, therapeutic management and the possible causal relationships of these cases are discussed.

[1]  T. Okanoue,et al.  Ischemic colitis during interferon-alpha treatment for chronic active hepatitis C , 1996, Journal of Gastroenterology.

[2]  F. Offner,et al.  Acute ulcerative colitis during successful interferon/ribavirin treatment for chronic hepatitis , 2005, Gut.

[3]  H. Tilg,et al.  A randomized placebo-controlled trial of pegylated interferon alpha in active ulcerative colitis , 2003 .

[4]  H. Tilg,et al.  A randomised placebo controlled trial of pegylated interferon α in active ulcerative colitis , 2003, Gut.

[5]  D. Baker.  Pegylated interferon plus ribavirin for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C. , 2003, Reviews in gastroenterological disorders.

[6]  Recommendations from the National Institutes of Health consensus development conference statement: Management of hepatitis C: 2002 , 2002, Hepatology.

[7]  R. D'Incà,et al.  Hepatitis B and C Virus Infection in Crohn's Disease , 2001, Inflammatory bowel diseases.

[8]  A. Karameris,et al.  Ulcerative colitis associated with interferon treatment for chronic hepatitis C. , 2001, Journal of hepatology.

[9]  G. Davis.  Current treatment for chronic hepatitis C. , 2001, Reviews in gastroenterological disorders.

[10]  J. McHutchison,et al.  Combination therapy with interferon plus ribavirin for the initial treatment of chronic hepatitis C. , 1999, Seminars in liver disease.

[11]  P. Marcellin,et al.  Randomised trial of interferon α2b plus ribavirin for 48 weeks or for 24 weeks versus interferon α2b plus placebo for 48 weeks for treatment of chronic infection with hepatitis C virus , 1998, The Lancet.

[12]  C. Fiocchi.  Inflammatory bowel disease: etiology and pathogenesis. , 1998, Gastroenterology.

[13]  T. Okanoue,et al.  Side effects of high-dose interferon therapy for chronic hepatitis C. , 1996, Journal of hepatology.

[14]  G. Fattovich,et al.  A survey of adverse events in 11,241 patients with chronic viral hepatitis treated with alfa interferon. , 1996, Journal of hepatology.

[15]  F. Baert,et al.  Interferon-alpha: an efficacious immune-modulating therapy for ulcerative colitis? , 1995, European journal of gastroenterology & hepatology.

[16]  S. Ardizzone,et al.  Clinical course of inflammatory bowel disease during treatment with interferon for associated chronic active hepatitis. , 1995, The Italian journal of gastroenterology.

[17]  A. Mitoro,et al.  Exacerbation of ulcerative colitis during alpha-interferon therapy for chronic hepatitis C. , 1993, Internal medicine.