Published online Jun 26, 2017. doi: 10.4330/wjc.v9.i6.553
Peer-review started: November 13, 2016
First decision: March 8, 2017
Revised: April 21, 2017
Accepted: May 3, 2017
Article in press: May 5, 2017
Published online: June 26, 2017
Processing time: 226 Days and 9.3 Hours
To conduct a review of “interferon related pericarditis”.
We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cinahl, and the Cochrane Database from the earliest available date through September 2016. A search strategy using the Medical Subject Headings and text keywords “interferon” and ”pericarditis” were used.
Nine case reports were eligible for the present study. Six of 8 cases were women and the mean age was 43.8 ± 13.8 years with chronic hepatitis C in 6 cases, malignant melanoma in 2 cases and chronic myelogenous leukemia in 1 case. The patients complained of chest pain in 6 cases, dyspnea in 5 cases and edema in 2 cases. Pericardial friction rub was heard in 3 of 9 cases. Congestive heart failure occurred in 3 of 9 cases. Two mechanisms for pericarditis were demonstrated, one is autoimmune included lupus like syndrome in 2 cases and the other is cardio toxicity in 4 cases. Treatment of interferon related pericarditis is discontinuation of Interferon treatment. Four of 9 cases were treated with prednisone and 4 with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Interferon related pericarditis still remains uncertain. Treatment of interferon related pericarditis rests mainly on early recognition and drug discontinuation. Interferon related pericarditis was treated with steroid and/or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Core tip: Interferon is considered to be one of the treatments for many diseases. However, interferon therapy is associated with side effects. Recently some reports demonstrated acute pericarditis complicating interferon therapy. Two mechanisms for pericarditis were demonstrated, one is autoimmune included lupus like syndrome and the other is cardio toxicity. However, these two mechanisms are controversial. The aim of this study is to review of “interferon related pericarditis”.