[Effect of topical injections of native alpha-interferon (HLBI) in the treatment of skin lesions of adult T cell leukemia: report of a case].
A case of adult T cell leukemia associated with prominent skin infiltrations was treated with native alpha-interferon (Human lymphoblastoid interferon; HLBI). Although previous therapy with intramuscular injections of HLBI showed no effect on the skin lesions, this time topical injections of HLBI induced regression and disappearance of skin lesions within one month. Cellular immunity in this patient evaluated by PPD reaction and PHA blastoid transformation had been depressed at the time of systemic administrations of HLBI, but at the beginning of the topical injections of HLBI, they were within normal range. CD4/CD8 ratio reversed to 0.86 after topical injections of HLBI, suggesting the effect of HLBI on cytotoxic T lymphocyte activation. Thus, topical subcutaneous injections of HLBI may be an alternative form of therapy for ATL skin infiltrations when systemic HLBI administration is not effective, especially for the patient with normal cellular immunity.
Sugie
Y
Y
First Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kyusyu University.
Hayashi
S
S
Shibuya
T
T
Otsuka
T
T
Okamura
T
T
Harada
M
M
Niho
Y
Y
D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D015552:Injections, Intralesional; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015458:Leukemia, T-Cell / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*
D007370:Interferon Type I