Psychological interferons

The emotional state of 90 patients with relapsing-remit-ting multiple sclerosis has been carefully assessed with a battery of psychological tests at baseline and after 1 and 2 years of treatment with interferon beta-lb (401). In contrast to what was expected, and despite the lack of controls, there was significant improvement in emotional state, as shown by significant reductions in scores of anxiety and depression over time. In addition, there was no effect of low-dose oral glucocorticoids in a subgroup of 46 patients. 

In a study of 67 patients with chronic viral hepatitis, the self-administered Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), which determines the patient s psychological profile, significantly correlated with the clinical evaluation and was a sensitive and reliable tool for identifying patients at risk of depressive symptoms before the start of interferon alfa therapy (112). It was also successfully used to monitor patients during treatment. 

Psychologic stress in humans induces the production of proinflammatory cytokines such as interferon gamma (IFN7), TNFa, IL-6, and IL-10. An imbalance of n-6... 

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