Possible myocardial toxicity associated with interleukin-4 therapy.
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.
Trehu
E G
EG
Department of Medicine, New England Medical Center, Boston, MA 02111.
Isner
J M
JM
Mier
J W
JW
Karp
D D
DD
Atkins
M B
MB
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
D015847:Interleukin-4