Hypertriglyceridemia during long-term interferon-alpha therapy in a series of hematologic patients.
Adverse reactions to interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) therapy include flu-like syndrome, bone marrow suppression, neurotoxic effects, and autoimmunity. A slight increase in triglyceride levels has been described less frequently during IFN-alpha administration. The incidence of IFN-alpha-induced hypertriglyceridemia seems variable, and there are no clear data on how to treat it. We report the effect of long-term (more than 12 months) IFN-alpha treatment on triglyceride levels in 43 patients suffering from hairy cell leukemia (18), multiple myeloma (10), chronic myelogenous leukemia (6), cryoglobulinemia (5), non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (3), and Sezary syndrome (1). Hypertriglyceridemia was found in 6 patients (15%). In 3 patients, gemfibrozil restored normal triglyceride values. This study suggests that hypertriglyceridemia is a minor side effect of long-term IFN-alpha therapy and that gemfibrozil might be considered the treatment of choice.
Sgarabotto
D
D
Second Chair of Internal Medicine, University of Padua Medical School, Italy.
Vianello
F
F
Stefani
P M
PM
Scano
F
F
Sartori
R
R
Caenazzo
A
A
Girolami
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D015248:Gemfibrozil / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D015228:Hypertriglyceridemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D016898:Interferon-alpha; D015248:Gemfibrozil