title: [Peripheral neuropathy during a second cycle of treatment with high doses of interferon-alpha in a patient with hepatitis C, and a review of the literature].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Alpha interferons (IFN a) have been shown to be effective in patients with chronic active hepatitis C. IFN a treatment may be associated with neurologic complications, including peripheral neuropathy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We describe a patient with active hepatitis C treated with IFN a, who developed peripheral neuropathy after a second cicle of treatment with interferon. He received a first cicle of treatment with IFN a during 22 weeks (6 MU/day 3 times a week). Afther that he did not received treatment during one year and then he received the second cycle (6 MU/day 3 times a week). After 3 months of therapy the patient complained about paresthesias of both legs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IFN a related neuropathy is probably rare; however, some cases may be misdiagnosed. Diagnosis of IFN a related neuropathy should be considered by physicians, particularly in patients given longterm treatment and high IFN a dosage. In this case we think that the patient had an acumulative efectt of interferon though he did not received treatment with interferon during one year.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Neurología, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y de la Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Ciudad de México, México. liztellez@correo.unam.mx
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Téllez-Zenteno
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Negrete-Pulido
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nuñez
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Estañol-Vidal
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: García-Ramos
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha