title: [Interferons. Interferons alpha and gamma: indications in systemic diseases].
abstract: Interferon alpha (INF-alpha)--In systemic diseases, most indications for INF-alpha result from its effect on haematological or hepatological manifestations. The spectacular effect of INF-alpha in chronic myeloid leukemia has led to its use for the treatment of hypereosinophilia syndrome and systemic mastocytosis. Over the last 6 years, we have treated 7 patients with the hypereosinophilia syndrome who were resistant to corticotherapy and had markers of myeloproliferation. Although both hydroxyurea and INF-alpha can be effective alone, their combination led to a decrease in the eosinophilia count to 1,000/ml, a decrease which was long-lasting in most cases. INF-alpha is also used in histiocytosis X alone or in combination with retinoids or with etoposide and has been found effective in several observations. In carcinoid syndromes whether treated priorly or not with a 5-fluoro-uracil-streptozoticin combination, INF-alpha leads to an objective response in two-thirds of the patients. Several multicentric protocols are currently assessing the efficacity of INF-alpha in mixed cryoglobulinaemias. In most observations these cryoglobulinaemias are seen in patients with markers of hepatitis C (mainly HCV) and the early results are encouraging. Temporary improvement has been reported in discoid or subacute lupus in 8 out of 10 cases. Haemangiomas of the infant, when life-threatening and corticoresistant, may be a good indication for INF-alpha. Thus 20 newborns or infants (including 4 with Kasabach-Merrit syndrome) have been treated with good results in 18. Interferon gamma (INF-gamma).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Service de Médecine Interne, Groupe Hospitalier Pitié-Salpétrière, Paris.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Blétry
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Papo
mesh_terms: D006402:Hematologic Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma
vernacular_title: Les interférons. Interférons alpha et gamma: indications dans les maladies systémiques.