title: [Treatment with interferon of systemic Langerhans-cell histiocytosis in an adult].
abstract: We report an adult patient with systemic Langerhans' cell histiocytosis (LHX), who was refractory to multiple chemotherapy courses and in whom a partial clinical and biological 3-month remission was achieved with alpha-2-interferon. The patient's response was associated with an increase in the rate of natural killer cells and to a return to normal of the H/S T-lymphocyte ratio. Immunological abnormalities have been reported in this condition, and it is now accepted that the most important one is a decrease in suppressor lymphocytes. However, it is not known whether these abnormalities are endogenous or exogenous. The experience with modifiers of the biological response for the treatment of LHX is scanty, but the probable immunological pathogenesis of the condition justifies a therapeutic trial of those agents in patients not responding to conventional therapy.
authors.affiliation: Sección de Oncología Médica, Hospital General Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Albanell
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salud
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bellmunt
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Español
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morales
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: García-Bragado
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Solé-Calvo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006646:Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
chemical_list: D007370:Interferon Type I; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
vernacular_title: Tratamiento con interferón de la histiocitosis de células de Langerhans sistémica en un adulto.