title: Effect of interferon-gamma on biogenic amine metabolism, electroencephalographic recordings, and transient potentials.
abstract: For assessment of the underlying central mechanisms of interferon (IFN), measurements have been made of the neurotoxicity, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) and homovanillic acid (HVA) concentrations, along with electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings and visual evoked potentials (VEP) during recombinant IFN-gamma therapy. Interferon-gamma was administered intravenously to 14 patients with non-small-cell lung cancer as 2 mg/m2 (48 X 10(6) IU/m2) three times weekly with 4 h infusion for 12 weeks. The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples were taken by means of lumbar puncture prior to treatment and during the end of the second week of IFN-gamma infusions. During the course of treatment, CSF 5-HIAA diminished from 129.6 +/- 10.9 to 84.5 +/- 10.4 nmol/L (p less than 0.001), while no significant changes were observed in HVA, EEG, and VEPs. These results suggest that IFN-gamma has an effect on the central serotonergic neurotransmission.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Färkkilä
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iivanainen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Härkönen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Laakso
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mattson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Niiranen
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Larsen
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cantell
mesh_terms: D001679:Biogenic Amines / Q000378:metabolism*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000628:therapy; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D001679:Biogenic Amines; D007371:Interferon-gamma