title: Systemic scleroderma. Multicenter trial of 1 year of treatment with recombinant interferon gamma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To confirm significant improvement of the skin score in systemic sclerosis by treatment with interferon gamma in a larger group of patients and to investigate on a molecular level the influence of interferon gamma on collagen type I messenger RNA expression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Open, noncontrolled multicenter study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five outpatient clinics specializing in the care of systemic scleroderma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-two patients suffering from the diffuse or limited form of systemic sclerosis and progressive disease were recruited; 20 patients finished the study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Each patient received interferon gamma, 50 micrograms subcutaneously 3 times a week for 1 year.
  
  
  METHODS
  Skin score, collagen type I messenger RNA in skin biopsy specimens.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients who completed the study showed an unchanged median skin score after 1 year of therapy. In addition, similar collagen type I messenger RNA levels were detected in skin biopsy specimens taken from involved skin before and after therapy in these patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment of systemic scleroderma with interferon gamma is associated with stabilization of the skin score and lack of worsening of visceral involvement.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hunzelmann
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Anders
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fierlbeck
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hein
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Herrmann
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Albrecht
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thur
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Muche
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Adelmann-Grill
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wehner-Caroli
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gaus
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Krieg
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D007371:Interferon-gamma