Systemic interferon gamma treatment in severe atopic dermatitis.
BACKGROUND
Recent results suggest decreased interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) but high interleukin 4 (IL-4) production in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD). Because the relative activities of IL-4 and IFN-gamma seem to regulate the amplitude of the IgE response we suggested a role for IFN-gamma in the treatment of AD.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of systemic IFN-gamma treatment in patients with severe AD.


METHODS
Patients with severe AD (n = 14) were treated with recombinant IFN-gamma for 6 weeks. During the study only basic local therapy with steroid-free hydrophilic or emollient ointments was allowed.


RESULTS
Eight patients (57%) showed marked clinical improvement during systemic IFN-gamma therapy. Four of these patients showed continuous improvement 3 months after treatment was discontinued. Mean total and antigen-specific serum IgE concentrations were not statistically different during and after treatment, whereas mean spontaneous IgE production in vitro was significantly lower after 6 weeks of IFN-gamma therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that IFN-gamma treatment may represent a novel therapeutic approach in patients with severe AD.
Reinhold
U
U
Department of Dermatology, University of Bonn, Germany.
Kukel
S
S
Brzoska
J
J
Kreysel
H W
HW
D000328:Adult; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood / Q000145:classification; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D011537:Pruritus / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012074:Remission Induction
D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D007371:Interferon-gamma