title: Combination therapy with recombinant human erythropoietin, interferon-alpha-2b and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor in idiopathic myelofibrosis.
abstract: Seven patients, 3 men and 4 women 48-72 years of age and suffering from idiopathic myelofibrosis were given a combination of recombinant human erythropoietin (r-hu-Epo), interferon-alpha-2b (IFN) and GM-CSF, in an attempt to treat their pancytopenia and marrow fibrosis. The dose of r-hu-Epo was 200 U/kg 3 times weekly, that of IFN was 3 x 10(6)/U 3 times weekly, and that of GM-CSF was 250 micrograms/m2/daily. The duration of therapy ranged from 3 to 6 months for r-hu-Epo and IFN and was 3 weeks for GM-CSF. The treatment regimen had a beneficial effect on all patients. The levels of hemoglobin increased in all patients but particularly in 5 (2 of whom had been dependent on red blood cell transfusions). Splenomegaly decreased significantly in 4 patients. Fibrosis in the bone marrow decreased in 2 patients. Three patients also had an increase in the number of white blood cells during the therapy with GM-CSF. We observed mild side effects in 6 of our patients. One patient had severe side effects from IFN and treatment was discontinued. In conclusion, the combination of r-hu-Epo, IFN and GM-CSF may improve the anemia (due to r-hu-Epo), increase the white blood cell count (due to GM-CSF) and reduce the marrow fibrosis (probably due to IFN) in patients with idiopathic myelofibrosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital, University of Ioannina Medical School, Greece.
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Bourantas
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tsiara
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Christou
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Repousis
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Konstantinidou
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Seferiadis
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010976:Platelet Count; D055728:Primary Myelofibrosis / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013154:Spleen / Q000473:pathology; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin; D004921:Erythropoietin; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor