Interferon-Associated Refractory Status Epilepticus

Abstract

Interferons have been used since the early 1980s for their antiviral, antiproliferative, and immunomodulatory actions to treat a variety of oncologic, infectious, and autoimmune disorders. Although many patients experience mild neurologic adverse effects with the administration of interferon, serious neurologic adverse effects are uncommon.1 We report on a child with severe postinfantile giant cell hepatitis in whom interferon α-2b seemed to induce status epilepticus with focal seizures and focal abnormalities on electroencephalogram (EEG). CASE REPORT Our patient was healthy until 11 months of age when she developed fever, jaundice, vomiting, and elevated liver function tests. The results of liver biopsy at 14 months of age showed severe giant cell hepatitis with bridging fibrosis, but an extensive anatomic, metabolic and infectious evaluation failed to reveal a specific etiology, and electron microscopy did not reveal viral particles.