Recurrence of sarcoidosis following interferon alpha therapy for chronic hepatitis C

We report a 67-year-old male patient with a known history of sarcoidosis in remission who had recurrent sarcoidosis following a five-month administration of interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) for chronic hepatitis C. He developed bilateral swelling of the parotid glands and bilateral diffuse reticulonodular pulmonary parenchymal opacities on chest roentgenograms. Serum angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) levels and soluble IL-2 receptor levels were high and a transbronchial lung biopsy revealed noncaseating granulomas. The abnormalities on both laboratory data and chest roentgenograms were resolved after administration of oral prednisolone.