[Parkinsonism in a patient receiving interferon alpha therapy for chronic hepatitis C].

We report a case of Parkinsonism due to interferon alpha (IFN alpha) therapy for chronic hepatitis C. A 51-year-old female received IFN alpha (Sumipheron@6 x 10(6) IU), three times a week by intramuscular injection. Six months after the initiation of IFN alpha therapy, she noticed tremor of bilateral fingers, and was admitted to our hospital. Neurological examination revealed muscle rigidity, bilateral finger tremor, mild bradykinesia. Tremor was more extreme at posture rather than at rest. She was diagnosed as Parkinsonism, and carbidopa-levodopa therapy was effective. Attention must be paid to Parkinsonism, when IFN alpha is administered.

Sarcoidosis associated with multiple large pulmonary nodules.

Parenchymal manifestations of pulmonary sarcoidosis include a diffuse, symmetric, reticulonodular interstitial pattern, a fibrotic pattern, and an acinar pattern. Large pulmonary nodules in sarcoidosis are rare, and their frequency (> 1 cm in diameter) has been estimated at 2-4%. We report a rare case of sarcoidosis associated with large bilateral pulmonary nodules. These nodules reached up to 7 cm in diameter, which is larger than any others reported previously. Furthermore, these nodular lesions developed within only 6 months of normal chest X-ray results and were not found to accompany bilateral hilar lymph adenopathy, which is observed in the usual course of sarcoidosis. As described above, this case of pulmonary sarcoidosis was significant not only in terms of the large size of the nodules but also the unique chest X-ray course.