title: [Sarcoidosis, myasthenia gravis and anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy: severe side effects of adjuvant interferon-alpha-therapy in malignant melanoma?].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Dermatologie und Venerologie Otto-von-Guericke-Universität, Magdeburg.
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kreutzer
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bonnekoh
authors.forename: Ingolf
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Franke
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ulrich
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gollnick
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha