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Neuropsychiatric side-effects of interferon alfa therapy for hepatitis C and their management: a review.

BACKGROUND
Interferon-Alfa (IFN-alpha) has been the mainstay of treatment for chronic hepatitis C. It has the potential to alter the course of chronic hepatitis C and prevent complications.


AIMS
This review summarizes current knowledge about the presentation, mechanism, course, and treatment of neuropsychiatric problems associated with interferon alfa (IFN-alpha) treatment.


METHODS
Studies were identified by computerized searches, and further references were obtained from bibliographies of the reviewed articles.


RESULTS
Neuropsychiatric symptoms frequently occur in hepatitis C patients treated with IFN-Alfa. These side effects are troublesome and frequently account for dose reduction or treatment discontinuation. Sometimes, they could be serious and possibly life threatening. Frequent psychiatric evaluations of high risk individuals and, when required, early administration of antidepressants could possibly help to avoid the development of an impending depression or reduce its severity and duration and thus increase adherence to treatment.


CONCLUSION
Greater cooperation between psychiatrists and hepatologists would mean less risk of having the serious side effects with more importance needs to be given to the identification of patients at risk.