Narcoleptic-like Episodes in a Patient Receiving Pegylated Interferon-alpha 2b: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Anticancer Res. 2017 Mar;37(3):1365-1368. doi: 10.21873/anticanres.11456.

Abstract

A 26-year-old male developed narcoleptic-like episodes while on pegylated interferon-alpha 2b (peg-IFN-α2b) therapy for stage IIIB melanoma. Once peg-IFN-α2b was discontinued, the narcoleptic-like episodes eradicated. A case report and review of the literature are presented in this article.

Keywords: Pegylated IFN-α2b; loss of consciousness; melanoma; narcolepsy; syncope.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • DNA Mutational Analysis
  • HLA Antigens / genetics
  • Humans
  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha / adverse effects*
  • Interferon-alpha / therapeutic use*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Melanoma / drug therapy*
  • Narcolepsy / complications*
  • Polyethylene Glycols / adverse effects*
  • Polyethylene Glycols / therapeutic use*
  • Recombinant Proteins / adverse effects
  • Recombinant Proteins / therapeutic use
  • Skin Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Syncope

Substances

  • HLA Antigens
  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • peginterferon alfa-2b