Dermatological Manifestations of Pegylated Interferon Alfa-2a and Ribavirin Combination Therapy in Chronic HCV Patients

June 2016 in “ Afro-Egyptian Journal of Infectious and Endemic Diseases ”

Mohamed Hamed Khater, Fathia M. Khattab, Mohamed Refaey

pegylated interferon alfa2a ribavirin hair loss cutaneous side effects pruritus hypertrichosis lichen planus generalized pigmentation

TLDR Most patients on this hepatitis C treatment experienced skin issues, especially hair loss.

The study evaluated the dermatological side effects of pegylated interferon alfa2a and ribavirin combination therapy in 116 chronic hepatitis C patients over one year. A significant 97% of patients experienced at least one cutaneous side effect. The most common was hair loss, affecting 69 patients. Other frequent side effects included pigmented oral lichen planus in 50 patients (43%), generalized pigmentation in 32 patients (27%), hypertrichosis of eyelashes and eyebrows in 42 (36%) and 40 (34%) patients respectively, and pruritus in 50 patients (43%). Additional effects included aphthous stomatitis, melasma, urticaria, brittle nails, cheilitis, glossitis, actinic lichen planus, greying of hair, discoloration of moustache hair, and photosensitivity. Preexisting conditions like psoriasis and lichen planus worsened in some cases.

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