Table 3.

Contraindications to interferon α-based therapy

Interferons α should not be used in the following circumstances:
History of hypersensitivity to interferons or any of the excipients
Decompensated cirrhosis
Hepatitis or another disease of autoimmune aetiology
Status post transplantation of liver or any other organ
Patients approved for liver transplantation
Pregnancy
Severe (especially unstable) heart disease
Generalized atherosclerosis
Chronic respiratory failure
Metabolic syndrome and difficult-to-treat diabetes, following consultation with an endocrinologist
Depression, suicidal ideation or attempts documented by a psychiatric evaluation
Thyroid diseases involving abnormal thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels
Anaemia
Thrombocytopenia < 90,000/μl
Absolute neutrophil count < 1,500/μl