Interferon-α-2a

Reactions 716 - 29 Aug 1998 Interferon-α-2a Myopathy: 4 case reports Four women, aged 46–50 years, developed persistent myopathic symptoms during long-term therapy with interferon-α-2a for various skin disorders. These included cutaneous lymphoma (1 patient), systemic mastocytosis (1) and Adamantiades-Beh¸ cet disease (2). The patients were treated with interferon-α-2a 3–9MU 3 times weekly. During continued treatment, they developed symptoms of persistent myalgia, fatigue and muscle weakness which persisted for 2–18 months. In the 3 patients who underwent electromyography, myopathic changes in the upper and/or lower limbs were confirmed. Interferon-α-2a was discontinued in all patients and myopathic symptoms improved slowly over 4–8 weeks in 3 of the patients. In 1 patient, residual muscular weakness persisted. Author comment: ‘IFN [interferon]-α-2a therapy may induce noninflammatory muscular atrophy, suggesting that the drug may directly affect muscle metabolism. Alternatively, it is possible that general fatigue and weakness symptoms induced by long-term rIFN-α therapy may lead to disuse muscular atrophy.’ Dippel E, et al. Myopathic syndrome associated with long-term interferon alfa treatment in 4 patients with skin disorders. Archives of Dermatology 134: 880-881, Jul 1998 - Germany 800693470 1 Reactions 29 Aug 1998 No. 716 0114-9954/10/0716-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved

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Transcript of Interferon-α-2a

Reactions 716 - 29 Aug 1998

Interferon-α-2a

Myopathy: 4 case reportsFour women, aged 46–50 years, developed persistent

myopathic symptoms during long-term therapy withinterferon-α-2a for various skin disorders. These includedcutaneous lymphoma (1 patient), systemic mastocytosis (1)and Adamantiades-Behcet disease (2).

The patients were treated with interferon-α-2a 3–9MU 3times weekly. During continued treatment, they developedsymptoms of persistent myalgia, fatigue and muscle weaknesswhich persisted for 2–18 months. In the 3 patients whounderwent electromyography, myopathic changes in theupper and/or lower limbs were confirmed.

Interferon-α-2a was discontinued in all patients andmyopathic symptoms improved slowly over 4–8 weeks in 3 ofthe patients. In 1 patient, residual muscular weaknesspersisted.

Author comment: ‘IFN [interferon]-α-2a therapy mayinduce noninflammatory muscular atrophy, suggesting that thedrug may directly affect muscle metabolism. Alternatively, it ispossible that general fatigue and weakness symptoms inducedby long-term rIFN-α therapy may lead to disuse muscularatrophy.’Dippel E, et al. Myopathic syndrome associated with long-term interferon alfatreatment in 4 patients with skin disorders. Archives of Dermatology 134: 880-881,Jul 1998 - Germany 800693470