Subscribe to RSS
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-984390
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York
Chronic Paranoid Psychosis and Dementia Following Interferon-α Treatment of Hepatitis C: A Case Report
Publication History
received 17.01.2007
revised 14.05.2007
accepted 21.05.2007
Publication Date:
10 August 2007 (online)
Abstract
Low-dose interferon-α is a standard therapy for hepatitis C. Psychotic disorders have been described as a rare complication of such treatments that resolve with its termination. Here, we present a patient without significant risk factors for interferon-α-induced serious mental disorders who developed a psychotic disorder with a cognitive impairment achieving the level of dementia after seven months of interferon-α therapy. The disturbances have persisted for three years despite cessation of interferon and introduction of antipsychotic treatment. The possibility of severe neuropsychiatric adverse effects of interferon-α therapy in a susceptible individual may necessitate regular psychiatric consultations during the treatment.
References
- 1 Bozikas V, Petrikis P, Balla A, Karavatos A. An interferon-alpha-induced psychotic disorder in a patient with chronic hepatitis C. Eur Psychiatry. 2001; 16 136-137
- 2 Capuron L, Pagnoni G, Demetrashvili MF, Lawson DH, Fornwalt FB, Woolwine B. et al . Basal ganglia hypermetabolism and symptoms of fatigue during interferon-alpha therapy. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2007; , in press (doi: 10.1038/sj.npp.1301362)
- 3 Debien C, De Chouly De Lenclave MB, Foutrein P, Bailly D. Alpha-interferon and mental disorders. Encephale. 2001; 27 308-317
- 4 Dieperink E, Willenbring M, Ho SB. Neuropsychiatric symptoms associated with hepatitis C and interferon alpha: a review. Am J Psychiatry. 2000; 157 867-876
- 5 D’Innella P, Zaccala G, Terazzi M, Olgiati P, Torre E. Psychotic disorders induced by interferon alfa. Recenti Prog Med. 2002; 93 367-369
- 6 Fattovich G, Giustina G, Favarato S, Ruol A. A survey of adverse events in 11,241 patients with chronic viral hepatitis treated with alfa interferon. J Hepatol. 1996; 24 38-47
- 7 Garcia-Pares G, Domenech C, Gil M. Psychosis induced by interferon-alpha. Psychosomatics. 2002; 43 428-429
- 8 Heiden U an der. Schizophrenia as a dynamical disease. Pharmacopsychiatry. 2006; 39 ((Suppl 1)) 36-42
- 9 Hosoda S, Takimura H, Shibayama M, Kanamura H, Ikeda K, Kumada H. Psychiatric symptoms related to interferon therapy for chronic hepatitis C: clinical features and prognosis. Psychiatry Clin Neurosc. 2000; 54 565-572
- 10 Howes O, MacKenzie KJ. Manic psychosis induced by long term alpha-interferon treatment for hepatitis C. Int J Psychiatry Clin Pract. 2000; 4 161-162
- 11 Juengling FD, Ebert D, Gut O, Engelbrecht MA, Rasenack J, Nitzsche EU. et al . Prefrontal cortical hypometabolism during low-dose interferon alpha treatment. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2000; 152 383-389
- 12 Kalyoncu OA, Tan D, Mirsal H, Pektas O, Beyazyurek M. Major depressive disorder with psychotic features induced by interferon-α treatment for hepatitis C in a polydrug abuser. J Psychopharmacol. 2005; 19 102-105
- 13 Kamei S, Sakai T, Matsuura M, Tanaka N, Kojima T, Arakawa Y. et al . Alterations of quantitative EEG and mini-mental state examination in interferon-alpha-treated hepatitis C. Eur Neurol. 2002; 48 102-107
- 14 Kamei S, Tanaka N, Mastuura M, Arakawa Y, Kojima T, Matsukawa Y. et al . Blinded, prospective, and serial evaluation by quantitative-EEG in interferon-alpha-treated hepatitis-C. Acta Neurol Scand. 1999; 100 25-33
- 15 Kornischka J, Burtscheidt W, Gaebel W. Interferon-induced paranoid psychosis Review of the literature and case report. Nervenarzt. 2002; 73 463-467
- 16 Leuner K, Muller WE. The complexity of the dopaminergic synapses and their modulation by antipsychotics. Pharmacopsychiatry. 2006; 39 ((Suppl 1)) S15-20
- 17 Meyers CA, Scheibel RS, Forman AD. Persistent neurotoxicity of systemically administered interferon-alpha. Neurology. 1991; 41 672-676
- 18 Mungas D, Marshall SC, Weldon M, Haan M, Reed BR. Age and education correction of Mini-Mental State Examination for English and Spanish-speaking elderly. Neurology. 1996; 46 700-706
- 19 Nozaki O, Takagi C, Takaoka K, Takata T, Yoshida M. Psychiatric manifestations accompanying interferon therapy for patients with chronic hepatitis C: an overview of cases in Japan. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 1997; 51 175-180
-
20 Spreen O, Strauss E. (editors)
A compendium of neuropsychological tests. Administration, norms and commentary . New York, Oxford, Oxford University Press 1998 - 21 Uttl B, Graf P. Color-Word Stroop test performance across the adult life span. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol. 1997; 19 405-420
Correspondence
W. DrozdzMD
Clinical Neuropsychology Unit
Nicolaus Copernicus University Torun
Collegium Medicum Bydgoszcz
9 Sklodowskiej St.
85-094 Bydgoszcz
Poland
Phone: +48/525/854 36 8
Fax: +48/525/853 70 3
Email: wikdr@cm.umk.pl