| Psychiatric symptoms induced by antiviral therapy in chronic hepatitis C: comparison between interferon-alpha-2a and interferon-alpha-2b. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 17163300 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Interferon-alpha treatment is associated with a large number of adverse effects. Depressive symptoms are not unexpected, and potentially dangerous psychiatric adverse effects can induce life-threatening conditions. We compared the incidence of depressive symptoms in patients with chronic hepatitis C during treatment with pegylated interferon-alpha-2a (IFNalpha-2a) and pegylated interferon-alpha-2b (IFNalpha-2b). PATIENTS AND DESIGN: We randomly divided 186 subjects with chronic hepatitis C into two treatment groups: group A, treated with IFNalpha-2a, and group B, treated with IFNalpha-2b. Treatment was continued for up to 48 weeks. Liver biopsy and hepatitis C virus RNA assay were carried out in all patients. Depressive symptoms and the prevalence of psychiatric adverse effects during treatment with IFN were evaluated using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale, and the Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistic Manual-IV axis disorders. RESULTS: At baseline 53% of subjects in group A and 57% of subjects in group B presented with depressive symptoms; at 12 weeks we found a high incidence of depressive symptoms in both groups (group A 61% and group B 65%) and three cases of life-threatening psychiatric symptoms (i.e. psychosis and delirium requiring discontinuation of antiviral therapy and admission to a psychiatric unit) in group A. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term administration of IFN can be associated with serious psychiatric adverse effects. It is very important that psychiatric symptoms are diagnosed early in IFN treatment so to improve treatment compliance and prevent fatal and/or life-threatening adverse events, as were documented in some subjects treated with IFNalpha-2a in our study. |
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Authors:
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Sergio Neri; Davide Pulvirenti; Gaetano Bertino |
Publication Detail:
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Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article; Randomized Controlled Trial |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Clinical drug investigation Volume: 26 ISSN: 1173-2563 ISO Abbreviation: Clin Drug Investig Publication Date: 2006 |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2006-12-13 Completed Date: 2007-01-03 Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 9504817 Medline TA: Clin Drug Investig Country: New Zealand |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 655-62 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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Department of Internal Medicine and Systemic Diseases, University of Catania, Catania, Italy. sergio.ner4@tin.it |
Export Citation:
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| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Adult Antiviral Agents / adverse effects* Depression / chemically induced Female Hepatitis C, Chronic / drug therapy*, psychology Humans Interferon Alfa-2a / adverse effects* Interferon Alfa-2b / adverse effects* Male Middle Aged Patient Compliance Polyethylene Glycols / adverse effects* Prospective Studies Psychoses, Substance-Induced / etiology* |
| Chemical | |
Reg. No./Substance:
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0/Antiviral Agents; 0/Polyethylene Glycols; 0/peginterferon alfa-2a; 0/peginterferon alfa-2b; 76543-88-9/Interferon Alfa-2a; 99210-65-8/Interferon Alfa-2b |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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