title: Cardiac arrhythmia in a CML patient treated with interferons.
abstract: We report a case of a 33-year-old woman who developed episodes of palpitation while receiving weekly alternating doses of daily intramuscular recombinant interferon alpha-2a (rIFN alpha-2a) and recombinant interferon gamma (rIFN gamma) for Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia. The electrocardiogram (ECG) and ambulatory Holter monitoring showed first-degree atrioventricular (A-V) block and episodes of junctional tachycardia. The ECG abnormality and palpitation disappeared after discontinuation of therapy. On rechallenge with recombinant interferon alpha-2b (rIFN alpha-2b) alone, there was recurrent palpitation and first-degree A-V block. Subsequent treatment with various doses of rIFN alpha-2b established a dose-response relationship between rIFN alpha-2b and palpitation in our patient. In view of increasing use of rIFNs in the clinical setting, this potential, albeit uncommon, toxicity requires attention and further investigation.
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: J U
authors.initials: JU
authors.lastname: Gutterman
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Talpaz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006327:Heart Block / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
chemical_list: D007370:Interferon Type I; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D007371:Interferon-gamma