title: alpha Interferon in the management of essential thrombocythaemia.
abstract: Thirteen patients (mean age 60.7 years; female:male ratio 10:3) with essential thrombocythaemia were treated with 3 million units (MU)/day interferon alfa-2b subcutaneously (s.c.) for 12 weeks, with all patients requiring a dose reduction after 4 weeks. The mean pretreatment platelet count was 1,400 x 10(9)/L and megakaryocytes were increased in all cases. Splenomegaly was present in six patients and haemorrhagic phenomena were observed in two. Nine patients (69.2%) had objective responses, including two (15.4%) complete responses (platelets less than 450 x 10(9)/L) which were then maintained with 5 MU interferon twice a week. Acute toxicity consisted of flu-like symptoms in 12 patients. Chronic toxicity (mainly leucopenia) was observed in nine patients. In conclusion, initial therapy and then requiring maintenance therapy at a reduced dose. However, the frequent side effects observed make it advisable to use a low dose of interferon alfa-2b, and to treat only those patients with significant symptoms and signs of thrombocytosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Hospital Miguel Servet, Zaragoza, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giralt
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rubio
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Cortés
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: San Miguel
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Steegmann
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Serena
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Fernández-Rañada
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: López-Borrasca
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010976:Platelet Count; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013920:Thrombocythemia, Essential / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins