MAPPED AUDITORY-EVOKED POTENTIALS BEFORE AND AFTER INTERFERON TREATMENT

Neurotoxicity induced by interferon (IFN) is revealed by neurobehavior al changes, such as irritability, somnolence, lack of motivation, and delayed ideation, As these side effects persist throughout IFN-alpha t reatment, we studied cerebral mapped auditory evoked potentials (MAEP) in 20 hepatitis C virus antibody (HCV Ab)-positive chronic active hep atitis patients before and after administration of leukocyte IFN-alpha (i.m. 3,000,000 IU), Some of the main components of MAEP, such as mor phology, latency, and power spectra, were altered before IFN injection . These parameters changed 7 h after administration as revealed by inc reased quality and quantity of acoustic signal reaching the brain cort ex and appearance of physiologic waves in patients with mild/intermedi ate liver disease, These effects revealed 48 h after IFN administratio n.