Bell's palsy and choreiform movements during peginterferon alpha and ribavirin therapy

World J Gastroenterol. 2009 Aug 7;15(29):3694-6. doi: 10.3748/wjg.15.3694.

Abstract

Neuropsychiatric side effects of long-term recombinant interferon-alpha therapy consist of a large spectrum of symptoms. In the literature, cranial neuropathy, especially Bell's palsy, and movement disorders, have been reported much less often than other neurotoxic effects. We report a case of Bell's palsy in a patient with chronic hepatitis C during peginterferon-alpha and ribavirin therapy. The patient subsequently developed clinically inapparent facial nerve involvement on the contralateral side and showed an increase in choreic movements related to Huntington's disease during treatment.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antiviral Agents / adverse effects*
  • Bell Palsy / chemically induced*
  • Chorea / chemically induced*
  • Female
  • Hepatitis C / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha / adverse effects*
  • Middle Aged
  • Polyethylene Glycols / adverse effects*
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Ribavirin / adverse effects

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Ribavirin
  • peginterferon alfa-2b