Interferon-α
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Reactions 684 - 17 Jan 1998 ★ Interferon-α First report of bipolar disorder: case report Interferon-α therapy for chronic myeloid leukaemia was thought to have precipitated the development of a latent bipolar disorder in a 47-year-old man. The man had been receiving interferon-α 9 MU/day for 7 months. He had experienced ’flu-like symptoms and impotence during treatment and, over the last 3 months, had developed gradually worsening euphoria and hyperactivity, in addition to tension, insomnia and talkativeness. He began to spend more money, his self confidence increased, he had megalomanic thoughts and he considered that he was highly sociable, superior and analytical. On hospitalisation, the man had not slept for a week. He was irritable, agitated and his affect was euphoric and labile. He had no signs of chronic myeloid leukaemia. He was diagnosed as having a manic episode with psychotic features. Interruption of interferon-α did not lead to a full recovery. He was treated with perphenazine and clonazepam. After 1 week, his score on the Brief Psychiatric Rating scale had decreased by 60% from 50 to 20. After 2 weeks, he discontinued perphenazine and clonazepam and discharged himself against medical advice. Subsequently, the man developed moderate depression. He began treatment with fluoxetine and lithium and the depression slowly resolved after 6 months. Author comment: A case of manic psychosis and 2 patients with bipolar disorder who experienced a manic exacerbation during interferon-α therapy have previously been reported. However, ‘we believe that this constitutes the first report of development of bipolar disorder in association with interferon- alpha treatment.’ Iancu I, et al. Bipolar disorder associated with interferon-alpha treatment. Postgraduate Medical Journal 73: 834-835, Dec 1997 - Israel 800616669 1 Reactions 17 Jan 1998 No. 684 0114-9954/10/0684-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved
Transcript of Interferon-α
Reactions 684 - 17 Jan 1998
★Interferon-αFirst report of bipolar disorder: case report
Interferon-α therapy for chronic myeloid leukaemia wasthought to have precipitated the development of a latentbipolar disorder in a 47-year-old man.
The man had been receiving interferon-α 9 MU/day for 7months. He had experienced ’flu-like symptoms andimpotence during treatment and, over the last 3 months, haddeveloped gradually worsening euphoria and hyperactivity, inaddition to tension, insomnia and talkativeness. He began tospend more money, his self confidence increased, he hadmegalomanic thoughts and he considered that he was highlysociable, superior and analytical.
On hospitalisation, the man had not slept for a week. Hewas irritable, agitated and his affect was euphoric and labile.He had no signs of chronic myeloid leukaemia. He wasdiagnosed as having a manic episode with psychotic features.Interruption of interferon-α did not lead to a full recovery. Hewas treated with perphenazine and clonazepam. After 1 week,his score on the Brief Psychiatric Rating scale had decreased by60% from 50 to 20. After 2 weeks, he discontinuedperphenazine and clonazepam and discharged himself againstmedical advice.
Subsequently, the man developed moderate depression. Hebegan treatment with fluoxetine and lithium and thedepression slowly resolved after 6 months.
Author comment: A case of manic psychosis and 2 patientswith bipolar disorder who experienced a manic exacerbationduring interferon-α therapy have previously been reported.However, ‘we believe that this constitutes the first report ofdevelopment of bipolar disorder in association with interferon-alpha treatment.’Iancu I, et al. Bipolar disorder associated with interferon-alpha treatment.Postgraduate Medical Journal 73: 834-835, Dec 1997 - Israel 800616669
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Reactions 17 Jan 1998 No. 6840114-9954/10/0684-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved
