[Interferon induced psoriatic arthritis in a patient with renal cancer]

Interferon induced psoriatic arthritis in a patient with renal cancer. The authors describe a patient's history, whose alpha interferon treatment was started after the nephrectomy because of renal tumor spreading into the inferior caval vein. One week after the starting the interferon treatment typical psoriatic plaques and acute polyarthritis developed with prominent inflammatory signs. The cessation of interferon treatment, administration of systemic and intraarticular steroid, non steroid antiinflammatory drug and combined disease modifying drug therapy resulted in termination of skin symptoms and definitive relief in articular complaints. Moreover there were found laboratory alterations characteristic for autoimmune thyroiditis as well. The authors attributed both manifestations to rare immunological side effects of interferon treatment and survey the relevant literature.