Eosinophilia triggered by beta-interferon therapy for chronic hepatitis C

The authors describe a case of eosinophilia occurring in an atopic patient suffering from chronic active hepatitis C following a 2-week course with beta-interferon. Since the most common causes of eosinophilia were ruled out by laboratory and instrumental investigations, the authors suggest a possible role of beta-interferon in triggering eosinophilia, in light of current beliefs about the factors modulating eosinophil growth, differentiation and survival. In particular, it has been supposed that the inhibitory effect of beta-interferon on gamma-interferon production could have triggered a preferential expansion of Th2 type T-helper cells whose particular profile of cytokine secretion has been shown to play a crucial role in the development of eosinophilia. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of eosinophilia induced by beta-interferon therapy for chronic hepatitis C.