Evaluation of the side effects of interferon therapy by questionnaire in chronic hepatitis C

We investigated the side effects of interferon (IFN) therapy by a questionnaire in 313 patients of chronic hepatitis C compared with those in 191 patients reported previously. The recall rate was 75%. Almost all patients had fever, and other flu like symptoms occurred, to 60-70% of patients, and these symptoms were two or three times frequent compared with the past report. Alopecia occurred to 64% of patients, and was significantly frequent compared with 14% in the past report. Eruption, sleeping disturbance, mental disorder and bleeding tendency were 12-41% frequency in our patients, but a little was reported in the past. The side effects were mild in almost all patients, but many patients needed some medications against the complaints. Ten percent of patients refused the readministration of IFN because of the side effects, expensive fee for treatment and difficulty in coming to hospital. Patients suffered from the side effects of IFN beyond our expectations. So we must inform to patients about the side effects before IFN therapy and attend to complaints of patients.