An Unusual Axonal Polyneuropathy Induced by Low-Dose Interferon Alfa-2a

Abstract

Standard, low-dose interferon alfa-2a treatment can produce a persistent predominantly small-fiber polyneuropathy.

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy in patients with liver transplantation

“…Our patients continued to take cyclosporine and tacrolimus and remained neurologically stable more than 6 months after treatment with IVIG, rendering both treatments an unlikely cause of the neuropathy. Like cyclosporine, interferon alfa‐2a has been suspected to provoke axonal polyneuropathy and has been successfully used in the treatment of CIDP 6, 9, 14. It therefore seems unlikely that interferon alfa‐2a was at the origin of CIDP in the case described here.…”

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy in patients with liver transplantation

“…Our patients continued to take cyclosporine and tacrolimus and remained neurologically stable more than 6 months after treatment with IVIG, rendering both treatments an unlikely cause of the neuropathy. Like cyclosporine, interferon alfa‐2a has been suspected to provoke axonal polyneuropathy and has been successfully used in the treatment of CIDP 6, 9, 14. It therefore seems unlikely that interferon alfa‐2a was at the origin of CIDP in the case described here.…”

Interferon‐α and ribavirin treatment in patients with hepatitis C virus–related systemic vasculitis

“…In our study, 21% of patients required discontinuation of therapy despite a mean treatment duration of 20 months with IFNα and 14 months with ribavirin. Careful monitoring for adverse effects is mandatory, because some manifestations of HCV‐related vasculitis, such as peripheral neuropathy, may worsen during interferon therapy, as observed in 2 patients in our study (41, 42). We did not observe a worsening of skin ulcers at the time of initiation of IFNα therapy, as has been reported by Cid et al (43).…”

Pegylated interferon/ribavirin-associated sudden hearing loss in a patient with chronic hepatitis C in Brazil

“…15 Rarely other neurological adverse effects of PEG-IFN therapy may include oculomotor nerve paralysis, seizures, Bell's palsy, peripheral neuropathy and acute sensorineural hearing loss. [16][17][18][19] To the best of our knowledge, this is the fi rst case that describes acute sensorineural hearing loss associated with PEG-IFN therapy in Brazil. Several factors may be associated with SHL in patients treated with interferon-alpha.…”

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy in patients with liver transplantation

“…Our patients continued to take cyclosporine and tacrolimus and remained neurologically stable more than 6 months after treatment with IVIG, rendering both treatments an unlikely cause of the neuropathy. Like cyclosporine, interferon alfa‐2a has been suspected to provoke axonal polyneuropathy and has been successfully used in the treatment of CIDP 6, 9, 14. It therefore seems unlikely that interferon alfa‐2a was at the origin of CIDP in the case described here.…”

Interferon‐α and ribavirin treatment in patients with hepatitis C virus–related systemic vasculitis

“…In our study, 21% of patients required discontinuation of therapy despite a mean treatment duration of 20 months with IFNα and 14 months with ribavirin. Careful monitoring for adverse effects is mandatory, because some manifestations of HCV‐related vasculitis, such as peripheral neuropathy, may worsen during interferon therapy, as observed in 2 patients in our study (41, 42). We did not observe a worsening of skin ulcers at the time of initiation of IFNα therapy, as has been reported by Cid et al (43).…”

Pegylated interferon/ribavirin-associated sudden hearing loss in a patient with chronic hepatitis C in Brazil

“…15 Rarely other neurological adverse effects of PEG-IFN therapy may include oculomotor nerve paralysis, seizures, Bell's palsy, peripheral neuropathy and acute sensorineural hearing loss. [16][17][18][19] To the best of our knowledge, this is the fi rst case that describes acute sensorineural hearing loss associated with PEG-IFN therapy in Brazil. Several factors may be associated with SHL in patients treated with interferon-alpha.…”

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy in patients with liver transplantation

“…Our patients continued to take cyclosporine and tacrolimus and remained neurologically stable more than 6 months after treatment with IVIG, rendering both treatments an unlikely cause of the neuropathy. Like cyclosporine, interferon alfa‐2a has been suspected to provoke axonal polyneuropathy and has been successfully used in the treatment of CIDP 6, 9, 14. It therefore seems unlikely that interferon alfa‐2a was at the origin of CIDP in the case described here.…”

Interferon‐α and ribavirin treatment in patients with hepatitis C virus–related systemic vasculitis

“…In our study, 21% of patients required discontinuation of therapy despite a mean treatment duration of 20 months with IFNα and 14 months with ribavirin. Careful monitoring for adverse effects is mandatory, because some manifestations of HCV‐related vasculitis, such as peripheral neuropathy, may worsen during interferon therapy, as observed in 2 patients in our study (41, 42). We did not observe a worsening of skin ulcers at the time of initiation of IFNα therapy, as has been reported by Cid et al (43).…”

Pegylated interferon/ribavirin-associated sudden hearing loss in a patient with chronic hepatitis C in Brazil

“…15 Rarely other neurological adverse effects of PEG-IFN therapy may include oculomotor nerve paralysis, seizures, Bell's palsy, peripheral neuropathy and acute sensorineural hearing loss. [16][17][18][19] To the best of our knowledge, this is the fi rst case that describes acute sensorineural hearing loss associated with PEG-IFN therapy in Brazil. Several factors may be associated with SHL in patients treated with interferon-alpha.…”