Interferon-induced anosmia in a patient with chronic hepatitis C

Am J Gastroenterol. 1998 Jan;93(1):122-3. doi: 10.1111/j.1572-0241.1998.122_c.x.

Abstract

We report a patient with chronic active hepatitis C developing acute anosmia during interferon (IFN) therapy. On July 31, he began receiving 6 MU of IFN-alpha daily. On September 26, he failed to smell gas leaking from a gas cooker, so IFN therapy was discontinued. He showed no reaction on a standard olfactory acuity test. As the patient had borderline diabetes, the association of anosmia with impaired glucose tolerance cannot completely be excluded, but his anosmia was probably induced by IFN therapy, since anosmia developed 10 days after the initiation of the IFN therapy, without any deterioration of his glucose intolerance.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antiviral Agents / administration & dosage
  • Antiviral Agents / adverse effects*
  • Blood Glucose / analysis
  • Glucose Tolerance Test
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Interferon-alpha / administration & dosage
  • Interferon-alpha / adverse effects*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Olfaction Disorders / chemically induced*
  • Olfaction Disorders / diagnosis
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Blood Glucose
  • Interferon-alpha