Bell's palsy and choreiform movements during peginterferon alpha and ribavirin therapy.
Neuropsychiatric side effects of long-term recombinant interferon-alpha therapy consist of a large spectrum of symptoms. In the literature, cranial neuropathy, especially Bell's palsy, and movement disorders, have been reported much less often than other neurotoxic effects. We report a case of Bell's palsy in a patient with chronic hepatitis C during peginterferon-alpha and ribavirin therapy. The patient subsequently developed clinically inapparent facial nerve involvement on the contralateral side and showed an increase in choreic movements related to Huntington's disease during treatment.
Barut
Sener
S
Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Gaziosmanpasa University School of Medicine, Tokat, Turkey. senerbarut@yahoo.com
Karaer
Hatice
H
Oksuz
Erol
E
Eken
Asli Gündoğdu
AG
Basak
Ayse Nazli
AN
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D020330:Bell Palsy / Q000139:chemically induced*; D002819:Chorea / Q000139:chemically induced*; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000009:adverse effects
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b