Acute pericarditis due to pegylated interferon alpha therapy for chronic HCV hepatitis - case report.

BACKGROUND: Cardio toxicity due to interferon therapy was reported only in small case series or case reports. The most frequent cardiac adverse effects related to interferon are arrhythmias and ischemic manifestations. The cardiomyopathy and pericarditis are rare but can be life threatening. The predisposing factors for interferon cardio toxicity were described only for ischemic manifestations and arrhythmias. CASE PRESENTATION: The authors report a case of pericarditis due to alpha interferon therapy for chronic hepatitis C, in a young woman without previous cardiac pathology. The clinical manifestations started during the 7-th month of interferon treatment. The cessation of interferon was necessary. After interferon discontinuation the patient recovered, with complete resolution of pericarditis. The patient scored 9 points on the Naranjo ADR probability scale, indicating a very probable association between pericarditis and interferon administration. CONCLUSION: If a patient receiving interferon therapy complains of chest pain of sudden onset, a cardiac ultrasound should be performed in order to rule out pericarditis. We point out the possibility of an infrequent but severe adverse effect of interferon therapy.

Clinical, statistical, histological and immunohistochemical aspects of periodontal changes in patients with diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Both diabetes mellitus (DM) and periodontal disease are the most widespread chronic inflammatory diseases that affect a very large number of the population worldwide. AIM: This study's aim was to compare the status of dental hygiene in a group of patients with DM, with patients in the control group, and to histologically analyzing the gum from the subjects with DM. PATIENTS, MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study sample was made up of 53 control subjects and 107 diabetics aged 19-80 years old. We evaluated the following parameters: the plaque index (PI) and the calculus index (CI), according to Simplified Oral Hygiene Index, and the gingival index (GI), according to the Löe & Silness criterion, correlated with glycosylated hemoglobin and the blood sugar levels. RESULTS: For all hygiene indices, the mean values recorded for the control group were significantly lower than the mean values recorded for any sub-category in the diabetic groups. CONCLUSIONS: DM contributes unfavorably to the evolution of periodontal disease. The poor glycemic control and the improper oral hygiene have a negative impact on the health of the periodontium, highlighted by increased scores on PI, CI and GI scales.

Type 1 diabetes mellitus with dual autoimmune mechanism related to pegylated interferon and ribavirin treatment for chronic HCV hepatitis.

We report a case of type 1 diabetes mellitus during pegylated interferon and ribavirin treatment for chronic hepatitis C, in a young man previously diagnosed with Hashimoto's thyroiditis and vitiligo. The diabetes mellitus occurred during the 12th month of therapy and the cessation of interferon was necessary. Besides anti-islet autoantibodies our patient had also anti-insulin receptor autoantibodies, which explains the type B insulin resistance. One year after interferon discontinuation the patient continues insulin treatment and all the pancreatic autoantibodies are still positive. Patients with autoimmune disorders should be closely monitored and periodically tested for pancreatic autoantibodies during interferon treatment, even in the absence of hyperglycemia.