Recombinant interferon-alpha, but not interferon-gamma is effective therapie for essential thrombocythemia
M Abegg-Werter, JMM Raemaekers, BE De Pauw… - Blut, 1990 - Springer
M Abegg-Werter, JMM Raemaekers, BE De Pauw, C Haanen
Blut, 1990•SpringerRecombinant interferon-gamma with a starting dose of 0.5 mg 3×/week subcutaneously, was
administered to 6 patients with essential thrombocythemia (median platelet count 1172× 10
9/1, range 602–1564). Four of the patients had received alkylating agents previously.
Hematological remission, defined as a decrease in platelet counts to≤ 350× 10 9/l, was
observed in none of these patients. Subsequently 4 of these 6 patients, supplemented by 2
others were treated with interferonalpha 2c at a dose of 5× 10 6 U daily subcutaneously …
administered to 6 patients with essential thrombocythemia (median platelet count 1172× 10
9/1, range 602–1564). Four of the patients had received alkylating agents previously.
Hematological remission, defined as a decrease in platelet counts to≤ 350× 10 9/l, was
observed in none of these patients. Subsequently 4 of these 6 patients, supplemented by 2
others were treated with interferonalpha 2c at a dose of 5× 10 6 U daily subcutaneously …
Summary
Recombinant interferon-gamma with a starting dose of 0.5 mg 3×/week subcutaneously, was administered to 6 patients with essential thrombocythemia (median platelet count 1172×109/1, range 602–1564). Four of the patients had received alkylating agents previously. Hematological remission, defined as a decrease in platelet counts to ≤ 350×109/l, was observed in none of these patients. Subsequently 4 of these 6 patients, supplemented by 2 others were treated with interferonalpha2c at a dose of 5×106 U daily subcutaneously. Five patients showed hematological remission. In case of hematological remission the interferonalpha dosis was reduced to 5× an thereafter to 3× weekly 5×106 U. During an observation period ranging from 12–41 weeks platelet counts remained normal in all patients. Side-effects were mild and consisted of fever, myalgias, malaise and itching occurring mainly during the first month of treatment. No dose adaptation was required. The patients treated previously with interferon-gamma experienced the side effects from this drug less tolerably than those from the alpha-compound. These observations suggest that recombinant interferonalpha may be an effective drug in treating essential thrombocythemia resulting in a sustained response.
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