Tolerability of interferon alpha-2b, a possible new treatment of active Crohn's disease.
OBJECTIVE
Due to the need for new principles for the treatment of Crohn's disease and due to the documented immunomodulatory effects of interferon alpha, the tolerability and effect(s) of interferon alpha-2b (Introna) in active Crohn's disease were examined in a pilot study.


METHODS
Five patients with active Crohn's disease (activity index (CDAI) scores of 235-517), were treated with interferon alpha-2b for 12 weeks.


RESULTS
All patients tolerated the treatment, but developed influenza-like symptoms, which were fully controlled by paracetamol. Two patients obtained partial remission with a decline in activity index scores of 39% and 50%. The activity of 2',5'-oligoadenylate synthetase, which together with two other interferon-induced proteins, neopterin and beta 2-microglobulin were increased during treatment, indicated clearly an in vivo uptake of interferon. Sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, orosomucoid, albumin, specific inflammatory markers: soluble interleukin-2 alpha-receptors (sIL-2R) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) did not show any changes before or after treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Future multicentre investigations are required to evaluate the clinical effect of interferon alpha-2b treatment in active Crohn's disease.
Davidsen
B
B
Department of Medical Gastroenterology C. Herlev Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Munkholm
P
P
Schlichting
P
P
Nielsen
O H
OH
Krarup
H
H
Bonnevie-Nielsen
V
V
D015088:2',5'-Oligoadenylate Synthetase / Q000097:blood; D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D001708:Biopterins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019798:Neopterin; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000378:metabolism
D001798:Blood Proteins; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin; D001708:Biopterins; D000082:Acetaminophen; D019798:Neopterin; D015088:2',5'-Oligoadenylate Synthetase