[Sarcoidosis, myasthenia gravis and anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy: severe side effects of adjuvant interferon-alpha-therapy in malignant melanoma?].
In dermato-oncology, interferon-alpha is widely used as treatment of cutaneous lymphoma and as adjuvant therapy in high risk malignant melanoma. With increasingly wide administration of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha), not only early-onset side effects, such as influenza-like symptoms, but also uncommon late-onset side effects are being recognized. We present three patients with melanoma who developed rare side effects in the course of adjuvant IFN-alpha-therapy: sarcoidosis, myasthenia gravis and anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy. Based on current knowledge a causal relationship between these diseases and the administration of IFN-alpha can neither be affirmed or absolutely ruled out. Therefore special attention should be paid to such coincidences.
Kreutzer
Katharina
K
Klinik für Dermatologie und Venerologie Otto-von-Guericke-Universität, Magdeburg.
Bonnekoh
Bernd
B
Franke
Ingolf
I
Ulrich
Jens
J
Gollnick
Harald
H
D000368:Aged; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D018917:Optic Neuropathy, Ischemic / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D016898:Interferon-alpha