Interferon-alpha caused reversible parkinsonism

Clin Neuropharmacol. 2015 May-Jun;38(3):119-20. doi: 10.1097/WNF.0000000000000087.

Abstract

Interferon has been used to treat chronic viral hepatitis and several malignancies. However, it may cause various neuropsychiatric adverse effects including parkinsonism. We report a rare case of interferon alpha-2a therapy-related parkinsonism in a 67-year-old man with metastatic papillary renal cell carcinoma and our experience of using Tc-99m-TRODAT-1 single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) as a tool for evaluation of parkinsonism. Physicians should be alert to the possibility of interferon alpha-2a-related parkinsonism.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Brain / diagnostic imaging*
  • Brain / pathology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Factors / administration & dosage
  • Immunologic Factors / adverse effects
  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha / administration & dosage
  • Interferon-alpha / adverse effects*
  • Male
  • Organotechnetium Compounds
  • Parkinsonian Disorders / chemically induced*
  • Parkinsonian Disorders / diagnosis
  • Parkinsonian Disorders / diagnostic imaging
  • Parkinsonian Disorders / pathology
  • Recombinant Proteins / administration & dosage
  • Recombinant Proteins / adverse effects
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon / methods
  • Tropanes

Substances

  • Immunologic Factors
  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha
  • Organotechnetium Compounds
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Tropanes
  • technetium Tc 99m TRODAT-1