[Chronic liver disease exacerbated during alpha-interferon treatment]

A 27 year old male patient was referred to our clinical unit because of marked elevation of serum bilirubin (up to 15.3 mg/dl), ASAT (563 U/l) and ALAT (845 U/l) were detected after institution of therapy with alpha interferon. The patient had been previously treated because of persistent slight elevation of serum transaminases, serological markers of hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus being both negative. Liver histology was consistent with chronic active hepatitis. Antinuclear, anti smooth muscle and antimitochondrial autoantibodies were all negative, although anti smooth muscle antibodies became positive (1/40) after interferon therapy. The drug was withdrawn, prednisone was instituted, and transaminases and bilirubin values returned to normality.