Neuropsychiatric toxicity associated with cytokine therapies

The cytokines interleukin-2 and interferon-alpha are potent biological agents used to treat malignancy, infectious diseases, and neurodegenerative disorders. While these medications show substantial therapeutic promise, the neuropsychiatric toxicity associated with these agents is often treatment-limiting. The pathophysiology of this toxicity is not well delineated, and adverse effects to the central nervous system are often misdiagnosed by clinicians. This report reviews the preclinical and clinical literature describing the morbidity associated with these agents and suggests appropriate clinical management strategies and future directions for research.