Three cases of successful tryptophan add-on or monotherapy of hepatitis C and IFNalpha-associated mood disorders.
BACKGROUND
Interferon-alpha (IFN(alpha))-associated mood disorder is a major complication of treatment for chronic hepatitis C.


METHODS
The authors report on three patients infected with chronic hepatitis C showing severe depressive symptoms during or after IFN(alpha) treatment. Because patients had lowered tryptophan blood levels and did not response to antidepressants, they received tryptophan up to a dosage of 1,000 mg/day as mono- or add-on treatment.


RESULTS
Tryptophan, used as augmentation or monotherapeutic treatment, led to a significant improvement of depressive symptoms in all three patients.


CONCLUSIONS
A tryptophan deficit seems to be involved in the pathophysiology of persistent mood changes during and after IFN(alpha) treatment.
Schaefer
Martin
M
Department of Psychiatry, Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany. martin.schaefer@charite.de
Winterer
Jochen
J
Sarkar
Rahul
R
Uebelhack
Ralf
R
Franke
Leonora
L
Heinz
Andreas
A
Friebe
Astrid
A
D000328:Adult; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D014364:Tryptophan