title: Gamma-interferon in myelodysplastic syndromes: a pilot study.
abstract: Eight patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS; RA = 1, RAEB = 2, RAEB-t = 4, CMML = 1) received three cycles of recombinant gamma-IFN administered in 2-week intervals, each consisting of a 14-day period of subcutaneous injections at a daily dose of 0.1 mg/m2. Neither a complete nor a partial remission could be obtained. There was only one definite improvement consisting in a rise of hemoglobin level from 7 to more than 12 g/dl. Two minor improvements were due to a slight rise of platelet counts. Three patients developed acute leukemia under treatment with gamma-IFN. Our data suggest that gamma-IFN administered according to the treatment schedule as used in our trial has only a minimal beneficial effect in patients with MDS.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Medicine, University of Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Schwarzinger
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stain
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bettelheim
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hinterberger
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lechner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001772:Blood Cell Count / Q000187:drug effects; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009190:Myelodysplastic Syndromes / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D010865:Pilot Projects
chemical_list: D007371:Interferon-gamma