title: Low dose interferon gamma for refractory Crohn's disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Direct cytokine modulation may benefit patients with inflammatory bowel disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subcutaneous interferon gamma (1.5 microgram/kg) was given three times a week in an open pilot study to four patients with active Crohn's disease unresponsive to standard immunosuppressive drug treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In one patient, the C-reactive protein and Crohn's disease activity index returned to normal and the patient became asymptomatic. The other three patients did not complete the 12-week treatment course, one because of drug failure, one because of drug side effects, and one because of incidental disease. However, the Crohn's disease activity index fell substantially and the C-reactive protein returned to normal in three out of four patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Interferon gamma may have a role in the treatment of resistant patients, but only if the dose can be optimised and drug side effects overcome.
authors.affiliation: St. Mark's Hospital, London, England.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Debinski
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Forbes
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Kamm
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D002097:C-Reactive Protein