Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
4
pubmed:dateCreated
1998-3-19
pubmed:abstractText
It has been suggested that recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) may cause pyschological and psychiatric problems, although the effects of rIL-2 on its own have not been well documented. To evaluate these effects, 17 patients with advanced colorectal cancer took part in a randomised, parallel group study of rIL-2 with chemotherapy (5-fluorouracil and leucovorin) versus chemotherapy alone. Patients were assessed regularly by means of various psychometric tests including the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Mood Rating Scale, the Mini-Mental State Examination, the Digit Symbol Substitution Test, the Trail-Making Test and the Benton Revised Visual Retention Test. Rigorous discontinuation criteria were applied to ensure that the effect of time-related variables did not influence the results. Compared with patients who were given chemotherapy alone, patients receiving immunochemotherapy reported reduced energy, impaired confidence, higher depressed mood and more confusion. Immunochemotherapy was rated as more distressing than chemotherapy alone and patients reported a greater incidence of appetite impairment, weight loss, poor concentration and fever. Cognitive assessments indicated that brain dysfunction can be caused by rIL-2. Compared with the control group, patients receiving immunochemotherapy showed significant impairment on Trail Making Test B and the Digit Symbol Substitution Test. One patient developed repeated transient psychotic episodes associated with rIL-2 infusions and another regularly became confused. These effects were not due to sleep deprivation or pyrexia. Treatment with rIL-2 should not be discarded on psychosocial grounds, although in each case the psychological morbidity and adverse effects on quality of life need to be balanced carefully against potential therapeutic benefits.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Dec
pubmed:issn
1057-9249
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
6
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
290-301
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1997
pubmed:articleTitle
The psychological and psychiatric effects of rIL-2 therapy: a controlled clinical trial.
pubmed:affiliation
Behavioural Oncology Unit, University of Aberdeen Medical School, UK.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Clinical Trial, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't