Interferon Therapy Exacerbated Pulmonary Hypertension in a Patient with Hepatitis C Virus Infection: Pathogenic Interplay among Multiple Risk Factors

Hiromi Tsuchiya; Hidetaka Kioka; Kentaro Ozu; Tomohito Ohtani; Osamu Yamaguchi; Yoshikazu Yazaki; Keiko Yamauchi-Takihara; Yasushi Sakata

doi:10.2169/internalmedicine.56.7822

CASE REPORTS

Interferon Therapy Exacerbated Pulmonary Hypertension in a Patient with Hepatitis C Virus Infection: Pathogenic Interplay among Multiple Risk Factors

Hiromi Tsuchiya, Hidetaka Kioka, Kentaro Ozu, Tomohito Ohtani, Osamu Yamaguchi, Yoshikazu Yazaki, Keiko Yamauchi-Takihara, Yasushi Sakata

Author information

Hiromi Tsuchiya
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Saku General Hospital Advanced Care Center, Japan
Hidetaka Kioka
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan
Kentaro Ozu
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan
Tomohito Ohtani
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan
Osamu Yamaguchi
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan
Yoshikazu Yazaki
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Saku General Hospital Advanced Care Center, Japan
Keiko Yamauchi-Takihara
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan
Health Care Center, Osaka University, Japan
Yasushi Sakata
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan

Keywords: portopulmonary hypertension, HCV infection, interferon therapy, up-front combination therapy

JOURNAL OPEN ACCESS

2017 Volume 56 Issue 9 Pages 1061-1065

DOI https://doi.org/10.2169/internalmedicine.56.7822

Details

Abstract

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is known to develop as a consequence of multiple genetic and/or non-genetic factors. A 27-year-old woman with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection developed severe PAH after interferon (IFN) therapy. Although most of the reported clinical courses of IFN-induced PAH are poor despite the discontinuation of IFN, the present patient was successfully treated with a triple combination therapy. In this report, we discuss the crosstalk among chronic HCV infection, IFN therapy, autoimmune disorders, and portal hypertension in the pathogenesis and development of PAH.

Corresponding author