title: Recombinant interferon alpha-2b as treatment of essential thrombocythaemia.
abstract: We report the disease characteristics and therapeutic results for 25 patients suffering from essential thrombocythaemia (ET), treated with recombinant interferon-alpha-2b (IFN-alpha 2b). ET was diagnosed according to the criteria of the Polycythaemia Vera Study Group. All patients were programmed to receive a subcutaneous induction treatment consisting of 3 MU of IFN-alpha 2b daily for 6 months. In responding patients, treatment was continued for a further 6 months with 3 MU of IFN-alpha 2b three times a week. Complete response was achieved in 13 of 25 patients, partial response in 10 of 25. In 2 cases, therapy was unsuccessful. Side effects were usually mild, consisting of flu-like symptoms in most cases, and were easily controlled by paracetamol. After a median follow-up of 14 months after discontinuation of the treatment, most patients retained the therapeutic response in the absence of toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Divisione di Ematologia, Ospedale A. Cardarelli, USL 40, Napoli, Italia.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rametta
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ferrara
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Marottoli
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Matera
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mettivier
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cimino
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013920:Thrombocythemia, Essential / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins