Therapeutic efficacy of recombinant interferon-alpha in polycythaemia vera.

Abstract

The therapeutic efficacy of recombinant interferon-alpha (rIFN-alpha) has been evaluated in 7 patients with polycythaemia vera (PV), diagnosed according to the criteria of the Polycythemia Vera Study Group. Six complete responses and one partial response were achieved. Pruritus significantly improved in 80% (4/5) of the cases. Recombinant interferon-alpha had to be discontinued in 1 patient because of grade 3-4 nephrotoxicity according to WHO criteria. rIFN-alpha therapy significantly decreased the phlebotomy requirements and improved the mean corpuscular volume, erythrocyte and platelet counts, pruritus complaints and the degree of splenomegaly (p < 0.05). rIFN-alpha seems to be an effective treatment modality for the myeloproliferation of PV and pruritus complaints.

• Authors: A Oztürk, A Günay, N Uskent
• Journal: Acta haematologica (Acta Haematol) Vol. 99 Issue 2 Pg. 89-91 ( 1998) ISSN: 0001-5792 [Print] Switzerland
• PMID: 9554456 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Interferon alpha-2
• Interferon-alpha
• Recombinant Proteins

Topics

• Aged
• Female
• Humans
• Interferon alpha-2
• Interferon-alpha (therapeutic use)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Polycythemia Vera (drug therapy)
• Pruritus (drug therapy)
• Recombinant Proteins