Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0023473 (chronic myeloid leukemia)
 18,916 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Trials with interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) have provided contradictory findings regarding the presence of cognitive side effects. The development of depression in some patients also raises questions about whether cognitive dysfunction might be secondary to an organic, interferon-induced mood disorder. Thirty patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia were examined before and during treatment with IFN-alpha alone or IFN-alpha and chemotherapy. Increased depressive symptoms and declines in information processing and executive functions were observed, but depression alone could not account for cognitive dysfunction. There was some evidence suggesting that exposure to chemotherapy and higher cumulative IFN-alpha dose may contribute to cognitive impairment.
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PMID:Cognitive dysfunction and depression during treatment with interferon-alpha and chemotherapy. 1526 Mar 70

Immunotherapy with interferon-alfa has become standard therapy in selected patients with viral hepatitis and chronic myelogenous leukemia. In addition, it is used in a variety of other diseases, both as standard therapy and in clinical trials. Its use is expected to expand in the following decade. Interferon can cause (severe) neuropsychiatric side effects. These side effects are discussed. Adequate management of these side effects is important, as is close collaboration between the oncologist and the psychiatrist. The cornerstone of management is patient education: this prevents interruption of therapy by patients who were not warned for neuropsychiatric side effects. Furthermore, patients should report in case of rapidly arising mood disorders. Interferon-alfa induced mood disorder is reported to be treatable. Three case descriptions illustrate this, but also illustrate some limits to successful treatment.
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PMID:Management of psychiatric adverse events with immunotherapy with interferon-alfa. 2697 39