Chronic paranoid psychosis and dementia following interferon-alpha treatment of hepatitis C: a case report.
Low-dose interferon-alpha is a standard therapy for hepatitis C. Psychotic disorders have been described as a rare complication of such treatments that resolve with its termination. Here, we present a patient without significant risk factors for interferon-alpha-induced serious mental disorders who developed a psychotic disorder with a cognitive impairment achieving the level of dementia after seven months of interferon-alpha therapy. The disturbances have persisted for three years despite cessation of interferon and introduction of antipsychotic treatment. The possibility of severe neuropsychiatric adverse effects of interferon-alpha therapy in a susceptible individual may necessitate regular psychiatric consultations during the treatment.
Drozdz
W
W
Clinical Neuropsychology Unit, Nicolaus Copernicus University Torun, Collegium Medicum Bydgoszcz, Bydgoszcz, Poland. wikdr@cm.umk.pl
Borkowska
A
A
Wilkosc
M
M
Halota
W
W
Dybowska
D
D
Rybakowski
J K
JK
D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003704:Dementia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010259:Paranoid Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha