AUTOIMMUNE DISORDERS DUE TO DOUBLE ANTIVIRAL THERAPY
WITH PEGINTERFERON AND RIBAVIRIN IN PATIENTS WITH
HEPATITIS C VIRUS INFECTION
ANCA OANA DOCEA1#, ELIZA GOFITA1#*, DANIELA CALINA2#, ZAHARIE SORIN IOAN3#, DANIEL IONICA VALCEA4#, PAUL MITRUT5#
1Toxicology Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, 2 Petru Rares, 200349, Craiova,
Romania
2Clinical Pharmacy Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, 2 Petru Rares, 200349,
Craiova, Romania
3Nephrology Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, 2 Petru Rares, 200349, Craiova,
Romania
42nd Surgical Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, 2 Petru Rares, 200349, Craiova,
Romania
5Internal Medicine Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, 2 Petru Rares, 200349,
Craiova, Romania
*corresponding author: elisagofita@yahoo.com
#All authors have equal contribution
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Abstract:
During antiviral therapy with peginterferon and ribavirin in chronic hepatitis C, severe adverse events were reported in 10 -
20% of cases. Among these, autoimmune adverse events are severe even if they are rarely reported. In this study we aimed to
highlight the type, incidence and biological profile of autoimmune disorders that may occur during double antiviral therapy.
We investigated 320 patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection treated with double anti-viral therapy with peginterferon
plus ribavirin between February 2012 and April 2015 in the Medical Clinic II of the Emergency Regional Hospital Craiova,
Romania. The incidence of autoimmune adverse events in the study group was reported in 1.87% of cases (6 patients).
Thyroid disorders have been reported in 2 cases, rheumatoid arthritis in 2 cases, systemic lupus erythematosus in 1 case and
in 1 case autoimmune thrombocytopenia. In all these cases, it was necessary to permanently stop the antiviral therapy and to
initiate specific treatment. The determination of a broad spectrum of antibodies (anti-platelet autoantibodies, anti-double –
stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) antibodies, anti-Thyroperoxidase (anti-TPO) levels, anti-mitochondrial antibodies,
anti-liver-kidney microsomal antibodies type 1 (Anti-LKM-1 antibodies), anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies) is
absolutely necessary and helps to diagnose of these autoimmune disorders.

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