[Sarcoidosis during the treatment of hepatitis C by interferon-alpha and ribavirin: 2 cases]

Interferon-alpha (IFN alpha) used to treat chronic hepatitis C can be responsible for some side effects. We report two cases of sarcoidosis which appeared in patients treated with IFN alpha and ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C.

A first patient, treated for 5 months with IFN alpha and ribavirin because of chronic hepatitis C, after the failure of a first treatment with IFN alpha alone, was hospitalized for dyspnea. The chest X-ray and scanner revealed an interstitial syndrome and mediastinal adenopathies. Biopsies of bronchial spurs revealed epithelioid and giganto-cellular granuloma. After discontinuation of antiviral treatment and starting corticosteroid therapy, the evolution was favourable but viremia reappeared. A second patient with IFN alpha and ribavirin for 4 months because of chronic hepatitis C (after the failure of a first treatment with IFN alpha alone) was hospitalized for fever, arthralgias, erythema nodosa and modification of previous skin scars. The biopsy of a scar showed an epithelioid and giganto-cellular granuloma. After discontinuation of antiviral therapy and starting corticosteroid treatment, the evolution was favourable.

Some publications mention occurrence of sarcoidosis during IFN alpha therapy, occasionally associated with ribavirin, disappearing after discontinuation of the treatment, though sometimes corticotherapy is necessary. The roles of IFN alpha and ribavirin are discussed.