[Cardiovascular complications of interferon therapy in chronic hepatitis C].

Severe cardiovascular complications (myocardial infarction, ventricular fibrillation et al.) have been reported in patients who have been administrated extremely high dose interferon (IFN) or cardio-toxic drugs, or who have had cardiovascular diseases. But cardiomyopathy, myocarditis and atrioventricular block were reported in patients who administered low dose IFN and no cardio-toxic drugs or had no cardiovascular diseases. We report here cardiovascular complications during IFN therapy for chronic hepatitis C. Cardiovascular complications that necessitated stopping IFN administration in 643 treated chronic hepatitis C patients are observed in 4 patients (0.62%). Second-degree atrioventricular block occurred in two patients, myocarditis in one patient and severe sinus bradycardia in one patient. So we have to check risk factors of cardiovascular complications before starting IFN therapy and electrocardiogram during IFN therapy.