Myalgia during interferon therapy--does it warrant monitoring muscle enzymes?

Trop Gastroenterol. 2009 Jul-Sep;30(3):175-6.

Abstract

Myositis during interferon therapy is a known but rare adverse event. However the clinician may overlook the symptom-complex of proximal muscle weakness and myalgia, seen in myositis, since myalgia is a commonly reported side effect of therapy. In this context then, is there a role for monitoring muscle enzymes to detect subclinical myositis in patients on interferon therapy? We prospectively monitored the creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LD) levels in all our patients who reported myalgia during treatment and noted that muscle enzymes remained within normal range throughout the duration of treatment. This excluded the possibility of subclinical myositis in myalgic patients and thus led us to conclude that routine monitoring of muscles enzymes is neither necessary nor beneficial.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antiviral Agents / adverse effects*
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Creatine Kinase / blood*
  • Drug Monitoring*
  • Female
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha / adverse effects*
  • L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / blood*
  • Male
  • Myositis / chemically induced
  • Myositis / prevention & control*
  • Polyethylene Glycols / adverse effects*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Recombinant Proteins

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Biomarkers
  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • L-Lactate Dehydrogenase
  • Creatine Kinase
  • peginterferon alfa-2a