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  • Title: Three cases of successful tryptophan add-on or monotherapy of hepatitis C and IFNalpha-associated mood disorders.
    Author: Schaefer M, Winterer J, Sarkar R, Uebelhack R, Franke L, Heinz A, Friebe A.
    Journal: Psychosomatics; 2008; 49(5):442-6. PubMed ID: 18794514.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND: Interferon-alpha (IFN(alpha))-associated mood disorder is a major complication of treatment for chronic hepatitis C. METHOD: The authors report on three patients infected with chronic hepatitis C showing severe depressive symptoms during or after IFN(alpha) treatment. Because patients had lowered tryptophan blood levels and did not response to antidepressants, they received tryptophan up to a dosage of 1,000 mg/day as mono- or add-on treatment. RESULTS: Tryptophan, used as augmentation or monotherapeutic treatment, led to a significant improvement of depressive symptoms in all three patients. CONCLUSION: A tryptophan deficit seems to be involved in the pathophysiology of persistent mood changes during and after IFN(alpha) treatment.
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