Organizing Pneumonia Associated with Pegylated Interferonαand Ribavirin Therapy

Abstract

Hepatitis C virus infection is the leading cause of chronic liver disease in the United States of America. Pegylated interferonαand ribavirin combination is the mainstay of treatment. Severe pulmonary toxicities are rarely reported. We report here a case of severe form of organizing pneumonia secondary to pegylated interferonαtherapy presenting as acute respiratory failure. Patient has near complete recovery with withdrawal of pegylated interferonαand steroid therapy. We report this case to raise the awareness of this rare but potentially life-threatening pulmonary complication of pegylated interferonαtherapy.