Severe Depression Following a-interferon Usage in a Patient with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

ABSTRACT

Background: Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML); with a median age of 40 years; is one of the commonest haematological malignancies in Nigeria. Cytoreductive agents; which were hitherto the mainstay of treatment; neither induce cytogenetic nor haematologic remission. Alpha-interferon (a-IFN); an endogenous glycoprotein with cytotoxic and natural killer cell enhancer effects has been found to induce haematologic and cytogenetic remission in patients with CML; but neuro- psychiatric complications of a -interferon (a-IFN) usage were not reported in Nigeria. Objective: To report a case of deliberate self-harm in University Lecturer as a side effect of a-IFN in the treatment of CML. Method: Clinical and laboratory follow up of a patient receiving a-IFN in the management of CML from the time of diagnosis of CML to the point of loss of contact. Result: Severe depression is a complication that may adversely influence the clinical outcome of a-IFN usage Conclusions/Recommendations: Although interferon related depression is uncommon; it is suggested that pre-therapy interferon assays and neuro-psychiatric assessment are carried out in prospective users of a-IFN