OPEN ACCESS Jacobs Journal of Internal Medicine Interferon Side Effects: When Somatization Betrays You - A Case Report Vital Da Silva Domingues 1* , Sara Neves 2 , Margarida França 3 1 Unidade de Imunologia Clínica, Hospital de Santo António, Porto *Corresponding author: Dr. Vital Da Silva Domingues,Unidade de Imunologia Clínica, Hospital de Santo António, Porto Largo, Tel: + 00351966226544 ; E-mail: vitalmsd@gmail.com Received: 04-28-2015 Accepted: 05-06-2015 Published: 06-29-2015 Copyright: © 2015 Vital Da Silva Case Report Cite this article: Domingues V D S. Interferon Side Effects: When Somatization Betrays You - A Case Report. J J Intern Medicine. 2015, 1(1): 003. Introduction Neuropsychiatric symptoms are widely reported in asso- ciation with both hepatitis C and IFNα treatment [1]its se- quelae, and its treatment. In particular, interferon, a primary component of treatment for chronic hepatitis C, has been strongly associated with depressive symptoms. This review summarizes current knowledge about the etiology, course, and treatment of neuropsychiatric problems associated with hepatitis C and interferon alpha (IFN-alpha and lead to dis- continuation of interferon in up to 13% of cases [2]. During both acute and chronic stages of hepatitis C, cog- nitive, affective and behavioral symptoms are frequently reported (60-20%). When on interferon treatment, these symptoms are not easily distinguished from each other or from depression [2,3]mechanism, course, and treatment of neuropsychiatric problems associated with interferon alfa (IFN-alpha. Beside these, almost all patients who are treated with IFN-α experience an acute flu-like syndrome hours af- ter the initial injection. Only after a few weeks of treatment, fatigue, malaise, apathy, cognitive and behavioral changes commonly develop. Neurological side effects appear in 1/3 of patients during IFN-α therapy [3]mechanism, course, and treatment of neuropsychiatric problems associated with interferon alfa (IFN-alpha. Peripheral neuropathy including demyelinating polyneuropathy related to IFN is extremely rare [2]. IFN-α 2a showed to have caused peripheral sensory neuropathy given for a period of twenty months [2] and we know that some patients develop antibodies to peripheral nerves antigens during treatment, but its pathogenicity has not been proved. Neuropsychiatric symptoms like mania and hypomania are considered a rare occurrence. Yet, an European study found that 20% of patients receiving pegylated IFNα plus ribavi- rin for HCV developed maniac and hypomaniac symptoms at some point during the 24 weeks of treatment [4]. To ease diagnostic skills some authors pointed out some possible Abstract: Neuropsychiatric symptoms are widely reported in association with both hepatitis C and IFNα treatment [1]its sequelae, and its treatment. In particular, interferon, a primary component of treatment for chronic hepatitis C, has been strongly associated with depressive symptoms. This review summarizes current knowledge about the etiology, course, and treatment of neuropsychiatric problems associated with hepatitis C and interferon alpha (IFN-alpha and lead to discontin- uation of interferon in up to 13% of cases [2]. When on interferon treatment, cognitive, affective and behavioral symptoms are not easily distinguished from each other or from depression [2,3]mechanism, course, and treatment of neuropsychiatric problems associated with interferon alfa (IFN-alpha. The challenge is even higher if in somatoform cases. We describe a case of somatoform disorder while on classic therapy for hepatitis C and discuss the management of the patient main complaints and evolution. Keywords: Interferon; side Effects; Somatization; Hepatitis C Virus