Prospective 5-year followup of recombinant interferon-gamma in rheumatoid arthritis.
OBJECTIVE
To define clinical and laboratory outcomes of longterm recombinant interferon-gamma (rIFN-gamma) treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).


METHODS
Patients with RA (70) completing a 12-week multicenter double blind trial comparing rIFN-gamma with placebo were enrolled in a longterm prospective protocol evaluating rIFN-gamma in RA.


RESULTS
The majority of patients sustained clinical improvement for one year. Eight (11%) patients with RA continued to receive rIFN-gamma after 5 years. One patient fulfilled remission criteria. rIFN-gamma was well tolerated with remarkably few suspected adverse drug reactions. Forty-seven (67%) patients discontinued rIFN-gamma because of lack of efficacy, 7 (10%) because of concurrent illnesses, 5 (7%) were not compliant to study protocol, 3 (4%) developed suspected adverse drug reactions for a total of 62 (89%) withdrawals over the 5 years of followup. Patients continuing rIFN-gamma treatment for 5 years had lower initial total leukocyte and neutrophil counts and higher hemoglobin and hematocrit levels than patients who discontinued rIFN-gamma during the 5-year followup.


CONCLUSIONS
Longterm treatment of RA with rIFN-gamma was generally well tolerated. Although many patients maintained sustained clinical improvement for at least one year, the main reason for discontinuing the drug over 5 years was the lack of continued benefit.
Cannon
G W
GW
Medical Service, VA Medical Center, Salt Lake City, UT 84148.
Emkey
R D
RD
Denes
A
A
Cohen
S A
SA
Saway
P A
PA
Wolfe
F
F
Jaffer
A M
AM
Weaver
A L
AL
Manaster
B J
BJ
McCarthy
K A
KA
D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001175:Arthrography; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007596:Joints / Q000473:pathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013997:Time Factors
D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D007371:Interferon-gamma