Severe depression following á-interferon usage in a patient with chronic myeloid leukemia

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 (á-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 á -interferon (á-IFN) usage were not reported in Nigeria. Objective: To report a case of deliberate self-harm in University Lecturer as a side effect of á-IFN in the treatment of CML Method: Clinical and laboratory follow up of a patient receiving á-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 á-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 á-IFN