title: A preliminary study on the effect of alpha-interferon treatment on the joint inflammation and serum calcium in rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: A 12-week, double-blind controlled study comparing low dose alpha-interferon (5 x 10(5) iu, twice a week) and placebo was carried out to determine whether this drug has an immunomodulatory effect in rheumatoid arthritis. There were statistically significant improvements in the patients' joint score, C-reactive protein value and platelet count, without any side effects. Interferon-alpha caused an increase of serum calcium and a decrease of alkaline phosphatase. Thus, alpha-interferon requires further investigation as a possible additional useful treatment for rheumatoid arthritis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Kobe University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shiozawa
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shiozawa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kita
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kishida
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fujita
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Imura
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015675:Osteocalcin / Q000097:blood; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood; D010976:Platelet Count
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D015675:Osteocalcin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D002118:Calcium