Sustained remission of idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome following alpha-interferon therapy.
Two patients with idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) refractory to treatment with corticosteroids and hydroxyurea received alpha-interferon (alpha-IFN) for 3 and 1 years, respectively. Eosinophil counts dropped below 1.5 x 10(9)/l at weekly doses of 2-7 x 3 million units alpha-IFN. More than a year after discontinuation of alpha-IFN, 1 patient remains in a stable remission. Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) plasma levels were found to be normal in this patient, although GM-CSF is known to stimulate eosinophil proliferation in vitro. Based on the favorable clinical results of alpha-IFN, further studies are necessary to define its role in the treatment of HES.
Department of Internal Medicine V, University of Heidelberg, FRG.
S
S
Fruehauf
C
C
Fiehn
R
R
Haas
H
H
Doehner
W
W
Hunstein
D000328:Adult; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000187:drug effects; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D012074:Remission Induction; D013577:Syndrome; D013997:Time Factors
D016898:Interferon-alpha; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor