Severe muscle weakness during treatment with pegylated interferon alfa for chronic hepatitis C virus infection; A rare complication

Interferons (IFNs) are common therapeutics for several diseases such as viral hepatitis, multiple sclerosis and malignancy. A variety of autoimmune related side effects have been observed during IFN therapy. Rare cases of myopathy, polymyositis or dermatomyositis have been reported during therapy with high doses of IFNα. In this report, we describe a case with severe muscle weakness but near normal muscles′ enzymes during treatment of chronic hepatic C infection with pegylated IFN α 2a in a patient with major beta thalassemia This report suggests that severe weakness with normal muscles′ enzymes may occur during IFN therapy.