title: Possible myocardial toxicity associated with interleukin-4 therapy.
abstract: Interleukin (IL)-4 is a cytokine produced by T lymphocytes, which may play a role in allergic inflammatory processes through its stimulatory effects on immunoglobulin E production and mast cells. In this report, we describe a patient with metastatic melanoma involving the heart who had biopsy-proven myocarditis after treatment with high-dose IL-4. Because of the uncharacteristic predominance of polymorphonuclear and mast cells in the inflammatory infiltrate of this patient's myocardium, we postulate a unique mechanism of IL-4-associated myocarditis. Three other patients treated with IL-4 had less well-defined cardiac abnormalities, suggesting that patients receiving IL-4 may be at risk for cardiac toxicity. Additional studies will be necessary to confirm such an association.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, New England Medical Center, Boston, MA 02111.
authors.forename: E G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Trehu
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Isner
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Mier
authors.forename: D D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Karp
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Atkins
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009205:Myocarditis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D015847:Interleukin-4