High Frequency of Severe Telaprevir-associated Skin Eruptions in Clinical Practice

Abstract

Since the introduction of telaprevir, administered in combination with pegylated interferon and ribavirin for the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C, the incidence and severity of skin eruptions have increased significantly. The aim of this prospective study is to assess the frequency of drug-induced skin eruptions and their clinical and histological characteristics in patients who received the above treatment in daily clinical practice at our hospital. A total of 60 patients were included. The frequency of telaprevir-associated skin eruptions was 48.3%, which is slightly below, but close to, previously described ranges. There was a predominance of an eczematous clinical pattern, and spongiotic dermatitis on histological examination. A slightly high frequency of severe skin eruptions (13.3%) was found in our study series, which may be explained by all our patients being assessed and closely monitored by one or more dermatologists.