An autopsied case of interferon encephalopathy.
A 78-year-old male with renal carcinoma was treated with a high dose infusion of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) for eight months. The patient had evidence of organic brain syndrome such as dysfunction of memory, slowing of behavior, and development of mental confusion that appeared eight months after the treatment. MRI at the time of mental confusion revealed diffuse white matter lesions. Neuropathologic findings were compatible to Binswanger's disease and Senile Dementia of Alzheimer Type (SDAT), Preexisting neurologic abnormalities including intracerebral arteriosclerosis and cerebral atrophy may increase susceptibility to unacceptably severe IFN neurotoxicity.
Mitsuyama
Y
Y
Department of Psychiatry, Miyazaki Medical College, Japan.
Hashiguchi
H
H
Murayama
T
T
Koono
M
M
Nishi
S
S
D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000473:pathology; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002537:Intracranial Arteriosclerosis / Q000473:pathology; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000473:pathology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011605:Psychoses, Substance-Induced / Q000473:pathology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D016898:Interferon-alpha