title: Long-term interferon therapy for thrombocytosis in myeloproliferative diseases.
abstract: 31 patients with thrombocytosis associated with myeloproliferative disorders were included in a prospective trial of long-term interferon therapy. 6 patients (19%) had side-effects which required withdrawal of interferon within one year. 22 patients (71%) achieved and maintained a complete response (platelet count less than 440 x 10(9)/l) for at least twelve months, with reduction or abolition of symptoms associated with thrombocytosis and a significant fall in bone-marrow megakaryocytes. At twelve months, 25 patients were randomly allocated to maintenance or withdrawal of interferon. Thrombocytosis recurred rapidly when treatment was stopped, but a second remission could be achieved by resumption of interferon therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine II, University of Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gisslinger
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ludwig
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Linkesch
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chott
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fritz
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Radaszkiewicz
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001856:Bone Marrow Examination; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008533:Megakaryocytes; D008875:Middle Aged; D009196:Myeloproliferative Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D010976:Platelet Count / Q000187:drug effects; D011897:Random Allocation; D012008:Recurrence; D012074:Remission Induction; D013922:Thrombocytosis / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D007370:Interferon Type I