Bilateral neuralgic amyotrophy induced by interferon treatment
P. L. Bernsen, R. E. Wong Chung, H. M. Vingerhoets and J. T. Janssen
Institute of Neurology, St Radboud University Hospital, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Neurologic side effects of interferon therapy usually consist of diffuse
involvement of the central and peripheral nervous systems. We describe a
patient with hairy cell leukemia who developed bilateral neuralgic
amyotrophy, sacral radicular irritation, and worsening of a preexistent
polyneuropathy during treatment with recombinant interferon. A sample of
the patient's cerebrospinal fluid showed an increased protein content and
oligoclonal banding. Several weeks after discontinuation of interferon
therapy, Mees-Beau lines became evident on the patient's fingernails. The
findings in this patients, as well as those recently reported by others,
show that focal neurologic disturbances may be induced by interferon
therapy. The clinical picture of neuralgic amyotrophy is briefly reviewed.
