Spontaneous interferon-alpha antibodies in a patient with pure red cell aplasia and recurrent cutaneous carcinomas.
High-titered spontaneous interferon (IFN) antibodies were detected in a patient with pure red cell aplasia (PRCA), a benign mediastinal tumor, and recurrent cutaneous carcinomas. The circulating IFN antibodies reacted broadly with various human IFN-alpha subtypes (20-140 x 10(3) neutralizing units/ml serum) but not with IFN-beta or IFN-gamma, and they neutralized the antiviral activity of the patient's endogenous IFN-alpha. The IFN-alpha-binding activity was restricted to the IgG1 subclass in a nonmonoclonal manner. Whereas the PRCA repeatedly responded to immunosuppression with high-dose cyclosporin A (CSA) and CSA plus plasmapheresis, IFN antibody production continued during treatment with cyclophosphamide and CSA. Serological analysis revealed past infection with parvovirus B19 and persistent B19 IgM titers. Antibody-mediated impairment of the IFN-alpha system might have favored the development of both PRCA and the various cutaneous carcinomas in this patient.
Prümmer
O
O
Department of Internal Medicine III, University of Ulm, Federal Republic of Germany.
Frickhofen
N
N
Digel
W
W
Heimpel
H
H
Porzsolt
F
F
D000368:Aged; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003524:Cyclosporins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D010956:Plasmapheresis; D012010:Red-Cell Aplasia, Pure / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000601:surgery
D001323:Autoantibodies; D003524:Cyclosporins; D007370:Interferon Type I; D003520:Cyclophosphamide