Recovery after l-DOPA treatment in peginterferon and ribavirin induced parkinsonism
Abstract
Background Hepatitis C virus (HCV) chronically infects approximately 2% of the European population. Antiviral therapy with pegInterferon-alpha (PegIFN) and ribavirin (Rbv) is the standard of care, leading to HCV eradication in roughly 50% of patients. IFN-based therapy has been associated with high rates (20%) of central nervous system side effects, but only a few case reports exist on extrapyramidal side effects.Results We report a 64-year-old man developing parkinsonism during PegIFN alfa-2a and ribavirin therapy for chronic hepatitis C. No improvement was observed after treatment discontinuation. Therefore, on the basis of previous clinical and experimental reports, levodopa-benserazide treatment was started. After substantial improvement, symptoms relapsed following drug tapering.Conclusions This is the first case of parkinsonism in a Caucasian patient receiving PegIFN/Rbv therapy. The rapid and significant improvement of symptoms obtained in our patient with levodopa-benserazide, suggests that this therapy could be considered as first line symptomatic treatment.
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Parkinson's-like symptoms occur in some patients during IFN-alpha administration and have been successfully treated with levodopa.
“Parkinson’s-like symptoms have been observed in some patients during IFN-alpha administration, and these symptoms have been successfully treated with levodopa”
From Inflammatory cytokines in depression: neurobiological mechanisms and therapeutic implications (2013) · cites this paper as Bersano et al., 2008
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- Authors
- Bersano, A., Aghemo, A., Rumi, M. G., Ballabio, E., Candelise, L., & Colombo, M.
- Affiliations
- University of Milan (IT)
- Venue
- European Journal of Internal Medicine
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2008-07
- Volume
- 19
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 370-371
- ISSN
- 0953-6205 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2031439791
- Cited by
- 26
- References
- 7
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 0.46
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- European Journal of Internal Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Neurology › Parkinson's Disease Mechanisms and Treatments
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Hepatology › Hepatitis C virus research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Neurological and metabolic disorders
- Keywords
- drug-induced parkinsonism, peginterferon alfa-2a, ribavirin, chronic hepatitis C, levodopa/benserazide, extrapyramidal symptoms, interferon adverse effects
- MeSH terms
- Interferon alpha-2, Antiparkinson Agents, Antiviral Agents, Benserazide, Drug Therapy, Combination, Humans, Levodopa, Male, Middle Aged, Parkinson Disease, Secondary, Polyethylene Glycols, Recombinant Proteins, Ribavirin, Interferon-alpha
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