Long-term interferon therapy for thrombocytosis in myeloproliferative diseases.
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.
Gisslinger
H
H
Department of Medicine II, University of Vienna, Austria.
Ludwig
H
H
Linkesch
W
W
Chott
A
A
Fritz
E
E
Radaszkiewicz
T
T
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
D007370:Interferon Type I