title: Clinical management of a patient with drug dependence who attempted suicide while receiving peginterferon therapy for chronic hepatitis C.
abstract: Pegylated interferon-alpha combined with ribavirin is the current gold standard treatment for chronic hepatitis C. Illicit drug dependence is not a rare co-morbidity among chronic hepatitis C population, what can make antiviral treatment an outmost challenge. Despite high sustained virological response rate following antiviral treatment, serious psychiatric adverse reactions may occur, like depression and suicide attempt. We report a patient with recurrent depressive disorder, previous history of suicide attempt and illicit drug dependence. We discuss the singularities and challenges of managing this patient in order to complete the antiviral treatment.
authors.affiliation: University Hospital, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil. brunofabregas@yahoo.com.br <brunofabregas@yahoo.com.br>
authors.forename: Bruno Cópio
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Fábregas
authors.forename: Alexandre Sampaio
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Moura
authors.forename: Renata Cristiane
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Marciano
authors.forename: Ricardo Andrade
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Carmo
authors.forename: Antônio Lúcio
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Teixeira
mesh_terms: D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology*
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b