title: Interleukin-2 immunotherapy in children.
abstract: Immunotherapy with interleukin (IL)-2 possesses great potential in the treatment of immune-mediated diseases and cancers. However, only a few reports on a small number of children have appeared in the literature. From March 1988 to March 1989, 11 children and adolescents were treated with IL-2. They included 1 patient with hepatocellular carcinoma, 1 with hepatoblastoma, 6 with childhood atopic dermatitis, and 3 with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. The dosages ranged from 10,000 to 50,000 U/kg every 8 hours by intravenous drip. The following side effects were observed: anorexia, fever, and chillness (100%), general malaise (82%), irritability (64%), diarrhea (100%), nausea and vomiting (73%), weight gain (82%), edema (82%), abdominal distension (73%), oliguria (82%), cough (91%), dyspnea (27%), pleural effusion (40%), hypotension (82%), skin eruption (82%), oral ulcer (18%), enlarged liver (73%) liver function abnormalities (82%), renal function impairment (36%), electrolyte imbalance (73%), anemia (91%), thrombocytopenia (54%), leukopenia (18%), and eosinophilia (73%). Immunologically, numbers of natural killer cells were increased and natural killer and lymphokine-activated killer cell activities were augmented after IL-2 treatment. There was a tendency for serum levels of IL-2 and receptor IL-2 to decrease, especially in patients with atopic eczema. Ten patients (91%) completed one course (9 to 12 days) of therapy, and the remaining patient interrupted the treatment because of intolerable adverse effects. Clinically, complete remission for 3 months was obtained in 1 juvenile rheumatoid arthritis patient, transient improvement (2 to 6 weeks) in all atopic dermatitis patients, minor response in the hepatoblastoma patient, and no response in the patient with hepatocellular carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Republic of China.
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chien
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Hsieh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001171:Arthritis, Juvenile / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006394:Hemangiosarcoma / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015979:Killer Cells, Lymphokine-Activated / Q000187:drug effects; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2