Table 3.

Contraindications to interferon α therapy

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 TSH levels Anaemia Thrombocytopaenia < 90,000/μl Absolute neutrophil count < 1,500/μl