Three cases of successful tryptophan add-on or monotherapy of hepatitis C and IFNalpha-associated mood disorders.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Interferon-alpha (IFN(alpha))-associated mood disorder is a major complication of treatment for chronic hepatitis C.

METHOD:

The authors report on three patients infected with chronic hepatitis C showing severe depressive symptoms during or after IFN(alpha) treatment. Because patients had lowered tryptophan blood levels and did not response to antidepressants, they received tryptophan up to a dosage of 1,000 mg/day as mono- or add-on treatment.

RESULTS:

Tryptophan, used as augmentation or monotherapeutic treatment, led to a significant improvement of depressive symptoms in all three patients.

CONCLUSION:

A tryptophan deficit seems to be involved in the pathophysiology of persistent mood changes during and after IFN(alpha) treatment.

• Authors: Martin Schaefer, Jochen Winterer, Rahul Sarkar, Ralf Uebelhack, Leonora Franke, Andreas Heinz, Astrid Friebe
• Journal: Psychosomatics (Psychosomatics) 2008 Sep-Oct Vol. 49 Issue 5 Pg. 442-6 ISSN: 1545-7206 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 18794514 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation
• Antiviral Agents
• Interferon-alpha
• Tryptophan

Topics

• Adult
• Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation (therapeutic use)
• Antiviral Agents (adverse effects)
• Depressive Disorder, Major (chemically induced, drug therapy, psychology)
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Female
• Hepatitis C, Chronic (drug therapy, physiopathology)
• Humans
• Interferon-alpha (adverse effects)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Tryptophan (therapeutic use)