Abstract
Regional Metastatic Melanoma has a relatively high mortality rate. Adjuvant interferon-alpha (IFN-α) has been shown to improve disease-free survival, post-resection. Cardiotoxicity associated with IFN-α use has been described previously in the literature, but here we describe the first case of pericardial effusion with cardiac tamponade secondary to IFN-α 2b treatment of melanoma. Clinicians should be aware of this potentially lethal complication and the possible acuity of its onset.
References
Charles MB, et al. Final version of 2009 AJCC melanoma staging and classification. J Clin Oncol. 2009;27(36):6199–206.
Slijfer S, et al. Side effects of interferon-a treatment. Pharm World Sci. 2005;27(6):423–31.
Sonnenblick M, Rosin A. Cardiotoxicity of interferon A review of 44 cases. Chest. 1991;99(3):557–61.
Cohen M, Huberman M, Nesto R. Recombinant alpha 2 interferon- related cardiomyopathy. Am J Med. 1988;85:549–51.
Zimmerman S, et al. Irreversible, severe congestive cardiomyopathy occurring in association with interferon alpha therapy. Cancer Biother. 1994;9(4):291–9.
Kruit WH, et al. Cardiotoxicity as a dose-limiting factor in a schedule of high dose bolus therapy with interleukin-2 and alpha-interferon. An unexpected frequent complication. Cancer. 1994;74(10):2850–6.
Teragawa H, et al. Cardiogenic shock following recombinant alpha-2b interferon therapy for chronic hepatitis C. A case report. Jpn Heart J. 1996;31(1):137–42.
Sikole A, et al. Treatment of hepatitis C in hemodialysis patients with pegulated interferon alpha-2a as monotherapy. Ren Fail. 2007;29:961–1099.
Boonen A, Stockbrugger RW, van der Linden S. Pericarditis after therapy with interferon-alpha for chronic hepatitis C. Clin Rheumatol. 1999;18:177–9.
Nikolaidis LA, et al. Hepatitis C virus-associated pericardial effusion and tamponade in liver transplant recipient. Can J Cardiol. 2004;20(7):719–21.
Vacher-Coponat H, et al. Thrombotic microangiopathy in a patient with chronic myelocytic leukaemia treated with alpha interferon. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 1994;14:2469–71.
Khakoo AY, Halushka MK, Rame JE. Reversible cardiomyopathy caused by administration of interferon α. Nat Clin Prac Cardiovascular Med. 2005;2(1):53–7.
Benjamini O, Kimhi O, Lishner M. Severe pleuropericarditis and cardiomyopathy induced by high dose interferon alpha-2b. IMAJ. 2007;9:486–7.
Hauschild A, et al. Practical guidelines for the management of interferon-a-2b Side effects in patients receiving adjuvant treatment for melanoma. Cancer. 2008;112(5):982–94.
Lin CT, et al. Myxedema associated with cardiac tamponade. Jpn Heart J. 2003;44(3):447–50.
Gogas H, et al. Prognostic significance of autoimmunity during treatment of melanoma with interferon. N Engl J Med. 2006;354:709–18.
Conflict of interest
None.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Rauw, J., Ahmed, S. & Petrella, T. Pericardial effusion and tamponade following interferon alpha treatment for locally advanced melanoma. Med Oncol 29, 1304–1307 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12032-011-9935-7
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12032-011-9935-7