Three cases of successful tryptophan add-on or monotherapy of hepatitis C and IFNα-associated mood disorders

Background: Interferon-alpha (IFN alpha)-associated mood disorder is a major complication of treatment for chronic hepatitis C. Method: The authors report on three patients infected with chronic hepatitis C showing severe depressive symptoms during or after IFN alpha treatment. Because patients had lowered tryptophan blood levels and did not response to antidepressants, they received tryptophan up to a dosage of 1,000 mg/day as mono- or add-on treatment. Results: Tryptophan, used as augmentation or monotherapeutic treatment, led to a significant improvement of depressive symptoms in all three patients. Conclusion: A tryptophan deficit seems to be involved in the pathophysiology of persistent mood changes during and after IFN alpha treatment.