Adverse drug effects and pegylation.

摘要

Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are commonplace these days. With so many pharmaceuticals used to treat so many varied diseases in patients of varying types, it is no wonder that ADR case reports have become common. In this issue of the Southern Medical Journal Ji et al document a case of pleural effusion and interstitial pneumonitis after treatment with pegylated interferon for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. This case is interesting on two fronts. First, hepatitis C is a major health issue worldwide, with an estimated 170 million people infected. Second, various drugs may be beneficial in treating hepatitis C, but interferon remains a mainstay of therapy. Understanding and documenting potential adverse effects from a commonly used treatment modality is vital to anticipating potential ADRs and preventing their occurrence.