Adult respiratory distress syndrome after treatment with pegylated interferon á-2a and ribavirin

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Adult respiratory distress syndrome after treatment with pegylated interferon

á-2a and ribavirin

Edmond Vartany MDa, Cary A. Caldwell MDb and Terence K. Trow MDc,

aPulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Norwalk Hospital, Norwalk, Conn

bDivision of Gastroenterology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven,

Conn

cPulmonary Hypertension Center, Division of Internal Medicine, Section of

Pulmonary and Critical Care, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven,

Conn.

Available online 24 March 2008.

Pulmonary manifestations of interferon (IFN) use are a rare but well known

complication seen with both standard and pegylated interferon á-2b (pegIFNá-2b)

forms of the agent. These are generally of modest intensity and reversible. We

report the first case of fulminant adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)

associated with pegylated interferon á-2a (pegIFNá-2a) and ribavirin use for

hepatitis C, complicated by subsequent and ultimately fatal sepsis and

multiorgan failure. Practicing gastroenterologists and intensivists alike need

to be aware of the potential for serious pulmonary sequelae with the use of

combination therapy for chronic hepatitis C viral (CHCV) infections.

Reprint requests: Terence K. Trow, MD, Pulmonary Hypertension Center, Division

of Internal Medicine, Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Yale University

School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, LCI 105D, PO Box 208057, New Haven, CT

06520-8057.

Heart & Lung: The Journal of Acute and Critical Care

Volume 37, Issue 2, March-April 2008, Pages 153-156

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL & _udi=B6WG7-4S4D8DX-G & _user=1\

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