title: Severe depression following á-interferon usage in a patient with chronic myeloid leukemia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML), with a median age of 40 years, is one of the commonest haematological malignancies in Nigeria. Cytoreductive agents, which were hitherto the mainstay of treatment, neither induce cytogenetic nor haematologic remission. Alphainterferon (á-IFN), an endogenous glycoprotein with cytotoxic and natural killer cell enhancer effects has been found to induce haematologic and cytogenetic remission in patients with CML, but neuro-psychiatric complications of á -interferon (á-IFN) usage were not reported in Nigeria.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To report a case of deliberate self-harm in University Lecturer as a side effect of á-IFN in the treatment of CML METHOD: Clinical and laboratory follow up of a patient receiving á-IFN in the management of CML from the time of diagnosis of CML to the point of loss of contact.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Severe depression is a complication that may adversely influence the clinical outcome of á-IFN usage
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although interferon related depression is uncommon, it is suggested that pre-therapy interferon assays and neuro-psychiatric assessment are carried out in prospective users of á-IFN.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion,Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria. aishamamman@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Aisha I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Mamman
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Yusuf
authors.forename: Sm
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aminu
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Sheikh
authors.forename: Dr A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Hassan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003863:Depression / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015466:Leukemia, Myeloid, Chronic-Phase / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha