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Hyperpigmentation during interferon‐alpha therapy for chronic hepatitis C virus infection
Author(s) -
Willems M.,
Munte K.,
Vrolijk J.M.,
Den Hollander J.C.,
Böhm M.,
Kemmeren M.H.,
De Man R.A.,
Brouwer J.T.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2133.2003.05422.x
Subject(s) - hyperpigmentation , medicine , alpha interferon , ribavirin , dermatology , hepatitis c virus , hepatitis c , pigmentation disorder , melanin , interferon , tongue , skin hyperpigmentation , pathology , interferon alfa , virus , immunology , biology , genetics
Summary Many types of skin disorders concomitantly occur with hepatitis C virus infection. These skin lesions may be induced or worsened during antiviral therapy with interferon‐alpha (IFN). To our knowledge, hyperpigmentation of the skin—and especially of the tongue—has not been reported so far. We describe two dark‐skinned patients who developed hyperpigmented skin and tongue lesions during combination therapy with IFN and ribavirin. Immunohistochemical analysis of tongue biopsies confirmed the suspicion of melanin deposits in these areas of hyperpigmentation. We hypothesize that during interferon therapy, melanocytes may produce more melanin pigment in the presence of α‐melanocyte stimulating hormone and sufficient amounts of tyrosine, leading to melanin deposits and clinical hyperpigmentation.