Bilateral skin ulceration after injection of pegylated interferon-alpha-2b in a patient with chronic hepatitis c

摘要

Interferon (IFN) is essential in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. However, treatment with IFN alone is generally associated with a sustained virological response in <20% of patients. Covalent attachment of a 12kd monomethoxy polyethylene glycol polymer to IFNalpha-2b produces PEG-IFNalpha-2b (PEG-Intron~R, Schering Corporation, Kenilworth, NJ, USA), a compound that has a better absorption, slower rate of clearance, and longer half-life than unmodified IFNalpha. Recent data demonstrated that patients with chronic HCV infection treated with PEG-IFNalpha-2b showed a significantly greater histological improve ment than those treated with standard IFN.