title: alpha-Interferon in myelofibrosis: a case report.
abstract: A patient with advanced myeloid metaplasia was treated with alpha-interferon (29 months) with a remarkable response. He had anaemia, thrombocytopenia and hepatosplenomegaly with infarction. The initial bone marrow showed replacement with fibrosis with no evident haemopoietic cells. Post-therapy, the patient became asymptomatic, transfusion independent and had normal blood counts. The repeat bone marrow was 30% cellular with 1 + reticulin and no fibrosis. Treatment was well tolerated without appreciable side-effects. These results indicate that prolonged therapy with alpha-interferon can improve haemopoiesis and reverse marrow fibrosis.
authors.affiliation: Western Pennsylvania Cancer Institute, Western Pennsylvania Hospital, Pittsburgh 15224.
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Dalla
authors.forename: Z R
authors.initials: ZR
authors.lastname: Zeigler
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Shadduck
mesh_terms: D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055728:Primary Myelofibrosis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha