Parkinsonism in patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with interferon-alpha2b: a report of two cases.
Details of two patients with chronic hepatitis C infection who developed features of Parkinsonism when treated with IFN-alpha2b and ribavirin are reported. The symptoms resolved when treatment was discontinued in one patient but not in the other. Physicians should be alert to the possibility that drug-related Parkinsonism may complicate treatment of hepatitis C infection with antiviral agents; the agent most likely responsible is IFN-alpha2b. Prompt withdrawal of treatment is mandatory but does not always guarantee reversal of the Parkinsonian features.
Kajihara
Mikio
M
Centre for Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University College London Medical School, University College London, London, UK.
Montagnese
Sara
S
Khanna
Pooja
P
Amodio
Piero
P
Schapira
Anthony H V
AH
Dusheiko
Geoffrey M
GM
Morgan
Marsha Y
MY
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000821:virology; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017093:Liver Failure / Q000821:virology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020734:Parkinsonian Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins