Reviewer's report
Title:Acute pericarditis due to alpha-interferon therapy for chronic HCV hepatitis
- Case report
Version: 2Date:27 January 2011
Reviewer: Curtis L Cooper
Reviewer's report:
Interesting work that is of educational interest to clinicians. The review of the
differential for pericariditis is valuable. Editting for grammer throughout is
required.
Key Issues:
1) This complication is widely recognized. However, I think that this complete
review of the topic is valuable.
2) Need to consider ribavirin on the differential as well as mentioning the other
medications that this patient was receiving.
3) A comment on the effect of interferon immune suppression on diagnostic
serology results would be useful.
4) Case Presentation, Page 4: Tuberculosis is on the differential. The prevelance
of latent TB in the HCV population is actually high. Therefore, the statement 'We
had no reason to suspect a tuberculosis etiology...' is inaccurate.
5) Case Presentation, final paragraph of page 4: How many weeks after IFN was
interrupted was treatment resumed? Resumption after 2 weeks would likely have
been of no value in terms of increasing the likelihood of SVR.
6) Discussion (para 1)- There are other interferons besides alpha and beta
(lamda is under investigation)
Level of interest: An article whose findings are important to those with closely
related research interests
Quality of written English: Needs some language corrections before being
published
Statistical review: No, the manuscript does not need to be seen by a
statistician.
Declaration of competing interests:
I am a clinical investigator, advisor and speaker in the field of HCV. IN this
capacity I interact with many pharma companies. I do not believ that I am
conflicted.
Reviewer's report
Title:Acute pericarditis due to alpha-interferon therapy for chronic HCV hepatitis
- Case report
Version: 2Date:27 January 2011
Reviewer: Curtis L Cooper
Reviewer's report:
Interesting work that is of educational interest to clinicians. The review of the
differential for pericariditis is valuable. Editting for grammer throughout is
required.
Key Issues:
1) This complication is widely recognized. However, I think that this complete
review of the topic is valuable.
2) Need to consider ribavirin on the differential as well as mentioning the other
medications that this patient was receiving.
3) A comment on the effect of interferon immune suppression on diagnostic
serology results would be useful.
4) Case Presentation, Page 4: Tuberculosis is on the differential. The prevelance
of latent TB in the HCV population is actually high. Therefore, the statement 'We
had no reason to suspect a tuberculosis etiology...' is inaccurate.
5) Case Presentation, final paragraph of page 4: How many weeks after IFN was
interrupted was treatment resumed? Resumption after 2 weeks would likely have
been of no value in terms of increasing the likelihood of SVR.
6) Discussion (para 1)- There are other interferons besides alpha and beta
(lamda is under investigation)
Level of interest: An article whose findings are important to those with closely
related research interests
Quality of written English: Needs some language corrections before being
published
Statistical review: No, the manuscript does not need to be seen by a
statistician.
Declaration of competing interests:
I am a clinical investigator, advisor and speaker in the field of HCV. IN this
capacity I interact with many pharma companies. I do not believ that I am
conflicted.
Please review this paper.
user
Reviewer's report
Title:Acute pericarditis due to alpha-interferon therapy for chronic HCV hepatitis
- Case report
Version: 2Date:27 January 2011
Reviewer: Curtis L Cooper
Reviewer's report:
Interesting work that is of educational interest to clinicians. The review of the
differential for pericariditis is valuable. Editting for grammer throughout is
required.
Key Issues:
1) This complication is widely recognized. However, I think that this complete
review of the topic is valuable.
2) Need to consider ribavirin on the differential as well as mentioning the other
medications that this patient was receiving.
3) A comment on the effect of interferon immune suppression on diagnostic
serology results would be useful.
4) Case Presentation, Page 4: Tuberculosis is on the differential. The prevelance
of latent TB in the HCV population is actually high. Therefore, the statement 'We
had no reason to suspect a tuberculosis etiology...' is inaccurate.
5) Case Presentation, final paragraph of page 4: How many weeks after IFN was
interrupted was treatment resumed? Resumption after 2 weeks would likely have
been of no value in terms of increasing the likelihood of SVR.
6) Discussion (para 1)- There are other interferons besides alpha and beta
(lamda is under investigation)
Level of interest: An article whose findings are important to those with closely
related research interests
Quality of written English: Needs some language corrections before being
published
Statistical review: No, the manuscript does not need to be seen by a
statistician.
Declaration of competing interests:
I am a clinical investigator, advisor and speaker in the field of HCV. IN this
capacity I interact with many pharma companies. I do not believ that I am
conflicted.
assistant