%0 Journal Article %T Digital ischemic necrosis caused by pegylated interferon in a patient with hepatitis C %A Jana G Hashash %A Sean A Tackett %A David J McAdams %J World Journal of Gastrointestinal Pharmacology and Therapeutics %D 2011 %I Baishideng Publishing Group Co. Limited %X Pegylated interferon plus ribavirin remains the first-line treatment for patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV). Interferon ¦Á has the most extensive clinical application and is used for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus and hepatitis D virus as well as acute and chronic HCV infections. The attachment of polyethylene glycol to interferon increases its half-life by reducing the rate of absorption after injection, reducing renal and cellular clearance and also decreasing immunogenicity. In this case report, we have described a patient with chronic hepatitis C who developed ischemic necrosis of her fingertips after completing her third course of pegylated interferon and ribavirin. The patient underwent a very extensive workup in order to determine the underlying cause of her digital ischemia which was finally determined to be secondary to the use of pegylated interferon. %K Pegylated interferon %K Interferon %K Hepatitis C %K Necrosis %K Ischemia %U http://www.wjgnet.com/2150-5349/full/v2/i1/6.htm