[Lymphomatoid granulomatosis--remission induction with interferon-alpha 2b].
METHODS
A 72-year-old woman was admitted to hospital because of nonproductive cough, acrodistal sensorimotor axonal polyneuropathy, fatigue and 10 kg weight loss over the preceding 9 months.


METHODS
Chest radiogram showed multiple round foci in both lungs. No organs other than the lungs and the peripheral nervous system were affected. Open lung biopsy revealed a pleomorphic angioinvasive lymphocytic infiltrations.


METHODS
The findings indicated lymphomatoid granulomatosis (LG). Wegener granulomatosis was excluded on the basis of the clinical, serological and histopathological findings. Treatment with alpha-interferon (IFN-alpha) produced complete remission within 4 months. Interruption of treatment immediately resulted in a recurrence.


CONCLUSIONS
Together with previously reported cases this patient's response to IFN-alpha suggests that IFN-alpha is a less toxic alternative to cyclophosphamide and corticosteroid administration in the early stages of LG.
Richter
C
C
Poliklinik für Rheumatologie und Rheumaklinik Bad Bramstedt, Institut für Pathologie, Berufsgenossenschaftliche Kliniken Bergmannsheil der Ruhr-Universität, Bochum.
Schnabel
A
A
Müller
K M
KM
Reuter
M
M
Schuster
P
P
Gross
W L
WL
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008230:Lymphomatoid Granulomatosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012074:Remission Induction; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins