Barreca T, Corsini G, Franceschini R, Gambini C, Garibaldi A, Rolandi E
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genova, Italy.
Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 1995 Apr;7(4):367-8.
To report the development of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-positive chronic active hepatitis with lichen planus in a patient during interferon treatment.
Case report and literature review.
A 64-year-old anti-HCV and HCV-RNA-positive woman.
The patient received interferon-alpha-2a treatment for histologically proven chronic active hepatitis.
Four months after the start of treatment the patient developed multiple cutaneous lesions on her hands, feet and back. A skin biopsy led to the diagnosis of lichen planus. The withdrawal of interferon was followed by a marked improvement in the cutaneous lesions, but not complete regression.
This case shows that HCV-positive patients with chronic active hepatitis may develop lichen planus during interferon therapy.
