Tongue Hyperpigmentation with Peginterferon α-2b Therapy in Hepatitis B: Case Series With Review of Literature

Abstract

Peginterferon α-2b (Peg IFNα-2b) continues to be used for treating a selected subset of patients with hepatitis B, in the era of direct-acting antivirals for hepatitis C infection. The authors hereby report four cases of tongue pigmentation among 21 patients with hepatitis B, whom they treated in the last 5 years, where at least 48 weeks of Peg IFN were administered. The lesions were mostly self-limiting, having no temporal relation with response to treatment. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first case series of Peg IFN-induced lingual hyperpigmentation in patients with hepatitis B, which clinicians should be aware of.