A Case of Bell`s Palsy Associated with Peginterferon Alfa-2a and Ribavirin Therapy for Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection

Korean J Hepatol > Volume 12(3); 2006 > Article

The Korean Journal of Hepatology 2006;12(3): 444-448.

A Case of Bell`s Palsy Associated with Peginterferon Alfa-2a and Ribavirin Therapy for Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection

Moo Yeol Lee, M.D., Hoon Cho, M.D., Yeong Muk Kim, M.D., and Joon Sang Lee, M.D.

Department of Gastroenterolgy, Wallace Memorial Baptist Hospital, Busan, Korea

ABSTRACT

Pegylated interferon alfa-2a (PEG-IFN) and ribavirin combination therapy is the first line treatment for chronic HCV infection. There are four reports of Bell’s palsy associated with interferon-α (IFN-α) and ribavirin therapy. We report here a case of Bell’s palsy that occurred in a patient with chronic HCV infection during combination PEG-IFN and ribavirin therapy. The patient was 49-year-old man with chronic hepatitis C for 2 years. The liver biopsy showed grade 1 and stage 1. Therapy with PEG-IFN (Pegasys) 180 μg/week and ribavirin 1200 mg/day was initiated. After 3 weeks of treatment, the patient showed a loss of muscular tone on the left side of his face. A diagnosis of Bell’s palsy was made, and the PEG-IFN and ribavirin therapy was stopped. Prednisolone 45 mg/d was given and then tapered for 8 weeks. His palsy improved over 6 weeks. (Korean J Hepatol 2006;12:444-448)

KeyWords: Chronic hepatitis C; Pegylated interferon alfa-2a; Bell palsy; Complications