Paroxetine for the Prevention of Depression Induced by High-Dose Interferon Alfa

Interferon-α is an important cytokine in the early immune response to viral infection and has both antiproliferative and antiviral properties. 1 Interferon alfa has been used at high doses (1 million to 50 million U) for the treatment of malignant disorders and infectious diseases, including malignant melanoma and chronic hepatitis C. Interferon alfa, in combination with ribavirin, is the only therapy approved by the Food and Drug Administration for hepatitis C, which affects 4 million to 5 million persons in the United States and is the most common cause of cirrhosis leading to liver transplantation. 2 Although it is an effective therapy, . . .