Polyethylene glycol interferon alpha-2b-induced immune-mediated polyradiculoneuropathy.
Polyethylene glycol-interferon alpha (PEG-IFNalpha) has been used as the standard treatment for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. There have been no previous reports of polyradiculoneuropathy with anti-ganglioside antibodies induced by PEG-IFNalpha-2b. We report a 59-year-old man who developed polyradiculoneuropathy during treatment with PEG-IFN alpha-2b for chronic HCV infection. Serum levels of anti-asialo-GM1 (GA1) and anti-GM1 antibodies were elevated. Cessation of therapy with double filtration plasmapheresis resulted in marked improvement in his symptoms accompanied by a reduction in the antibody level. PEG-IFN alpha-2b may induce peripheral neuropathy mediated by anti-GA1 and anti-GM1 antibodies.
Kato-Motozaki
Yuko
Y
Department of Neurology and Neurobiology of Aging, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa. yukokato@med.kanazawa-u.ac.jp
Komai
Kiyonobu
K
Takahashi
Kazuya
K
Ishida
Chiho
C
Ueda
Masami
M
Kusunoki
Susumu
S
Yamada
Masahito
M