Interferon-α
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Reactions 830 - 2 Dec 2000 S Interferon-α Demyelinating polyneuropathy in a patient with malignant melanoma: case report Interferon-α therapy for metastatic malignant melanoma was associated with the development of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy in a 55-year-old woman. Nine months after starting treatment with SC interferon-α, up to a maximum dose of 9MU 3 times weekly, the woman experienced tingling of her hands and feet, tiredness and general fatigue. At that time interferon-α therapy was discontinued, however, she presented 9 months later with dizziness, headaches and staggering to her left side. A neurological examination revealed a positive Romberg’s test. She was treated with dexamethasone and her symptoms improved immediately. Dexamethasone was subsequently tapered and discontinued. Eight weeks later, she experienced further neurological symptoms including loss of lower limb reflexes and bilateral ptosis with fatigueability. These symptoms resolved spontaneously during the following weeks, however, approximately 27 months after starting interferon-α she was admitted to hospital with numbness of her hands and feet, loss of balance and frontal headaches. An examination revealed a loss of light touch and pinprick sensation over both of her feet and a decreased sensation to light touch over her fingers. In addition, all of her lower limb muscle groups exhibited weakness and her reflexes were absent. A biochemical test revealed an elevated CSF protein level of 2.87 g/L. The woman was diagnosed with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, and she was treated with IV immunoglobulin and prednisolone. Her neurological function showed some improvement and, at follow-up, she had increasing sensation in her lower limbs and was able to mobilise with support. Author comment: ‘This case highlights an important potential side-effect and morbidity of immunotherapies in the management of malignant melanoma.’ Anthoney DA, et al. Inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy: a complication of immunotherapy in malignant melanoma. Annals of Oncology 11: 1197-1200, Sep 2000 - Scotland 800849584 1 Reactions 2 Dec 2000 No. 830 0114-9954/10/0830-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved
Transcript of Interferon-α
Reactions 830 - 2 Dec 2000
SInterferon-αDemyelinating polyneuropathy in a patient withmalignant melanoma: case report
Interferon-α therapy for metastatic malignant melanomawas associated with the development of chronic inflammatorydemyelinating polyneuropathy in a 55-year-old woman.
Nine months after starting treatment with SC interferon-α,up to a maximum dose of 9MU 3 times weekly, the womanexperienced tingling of her hands and feet, tiredness andgeneral fatigue. At that time interferon-α therapy wasdiscontinued, however, she presented 9 months later withdizziness, headaches and staggering to her left side. Aneurological examination revealed a positive Romberg’s test.She was treated with dexamethasone and her symptomsimproved immediately.
Dexamethasone was subsequently tapered anddiscontinued. Eight weeks later, she experienced furtherneurological symptoms including loss of lower limb reflexesand bilateral ptosis with fatigueability. These symptomsresolved spontaneously during the following weeks, however,approximately 27 months after starting interferon-α she wasadmitted to hospital with numbness of her hands and feet, lossof balance and frontal headaches. An examination revealed aloss of light touch and pinprick sensation over both of her feetand a decreased sensation to light touch over her fingers. Inaddition, all of her lower limb muscle groups exhibitedweakness and her reflexes were absent. A biochemical testrevealed an elevated CSF protein level of 2.87 g/L.
The woman was diagnosed with chronic inflammatorydemyelinating polyneuropathy, and she was treated with IVimmunoglobulin and prednisolone. Her neurological functionshowed some improvement and, at follow-up, she hadincreasing sensation in her lower limbs and was able tomobilise with support.
Author comment: ‘This case highlights an importantpotential side-effect and morbidity of immunotherapies in themanagement of malignant melanoma.’Anthoney DA, et al. Inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy: a complicationof immunotherapy in malignant melanoma. Annals of Oncology 11: 1197-1200,Sep 2000 - Scotland 800849584
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Reactions 2 Dec 2000 No. 8300114-9954/10/0830-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved
