Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus Provoked by Peginterferon .ALPHA.-2b Plus Ribavirin Treatment for Chronic Hepatitis C

Abstract

A 51-year-old man developed type 1 diabetes mellitus following 24 weeks of treatment with recombinant alpha-2b peginterferon plus ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C. Pancreatic autoantibody tests were negative before the start of therapy, but a significant increase in glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) antibody titer was seen after 24 weeks of treatment. Six months after the onset of type 1 diabetes mellitus, the patient continues to receive 40 units of insulin daily. The clinical course suggested that recombinant alpha-2b peginterferon plus ribavirin provoked type 1 diabetes mellitus, therefore, in patients who are candidates for interferon therapy the presence of pancreatic autoantibodies and the fasting plasma glucose level should be investigated before and during treatment.