Low dose recombinant interferon alfa treatment for classic Kaposi's sarcoma.
BACKGROUND
High doses of interferon alfa are used to treat Kaposi's sarcoma in patients with immunodeficiency, whereas low doses are generally ineffective. Following low-dose recombinant interferon alfa treatment for lymphoma, two patients showed a regression of their hematologic malignancy-associated Kaposi's sarcoma. This observation prompted us also to try low-dose interferon alfa treatment in uncomplicated classic Kaposi's sarcoma, and two additional patients were thus treated on an outpatient basis.


METHODS
Initial response was noted after 3 to 13 weeks of treatment. Remission was achieved after 4 to 6 months of low-dose interferon alfa treatment and its duration was 8 to 14 months. Recurrences were treated again and additional remissions were obtained after only 5 to 8 weeks of treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Low-dose interferon alfa treatment may represent an effective therapeutic modality for the treatment of patients with both lymphoma-associated and uncomplicated classic Kaposi's sarcoma.
Tur
E
E
Department of Dermatology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv University, Sackler School of Medicine, Israel.
Brenner
S
S
Michalevicz
R
R
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000628:therapy*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*
D007370:Interferon Type I; D011994:Recombinant Proteins