Systemic lupus erythematosus and Sjögren's syndrome induced in a case by interferon-alpha used for the treatment of hepatitis C.

A 57-year-old Japanese woman developed skin eruption, pleuritis, pancytopenia, parotid gland swelling and glomerulonephritis after 7-month treatment with pegylated interferon-alpha and ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C. Disease-specific autoantibodies such as anti-SSA, anti-SSB, anti-Sm and anti-dsDNA antibodies became positive. The diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus and Sjögren's syndrome was made and treatment with glucocorticoid pulse followed by oral glucocorticoid was started. It is highly probable that interferon-alpha-induced systemic lupus erythematosus and Sjögren's syndrome in this case. Interferon-alpha might be important pathogenically in these diseases.