Therapeutic efficacy of recombinant interferon-alpha in polycythaemia vera.
The therapeutic efficacy of recombinant interferon-alpha (rIFN-alpha) has been evaluated in 7 patients with polycythaemia vera (PV), diagnosed according to the criteria of the Polycythemia Vera Study Group. Six complete responses and one partial response were achieved. Pruritus significantly improved in 80% (4/5) of the cases. Recombinant interferon-alpha had to be discontinued in 1 patient because of grade 3-4 nephrotoxicity according to WHO criteria. rIFN-alpha therapy significantly decreased the phlebotomy requirements and improved the mean corpuscular volume, erythrocyte and platelet counts, pruritus complaints and the degree of splenomegaly (p < 0.05). rIFN-alpha seems to be an effective treatment modality for the myeloproliferation of PV and pruritus complaints.
Oztürk
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A
Department of Haematology-Oncology, Haydarpaşa Training Hospital, Gülhane Military Medical Academy, Istanbul, Turkey.
Günay
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A
Uskent
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N
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011087:Polycythemia Vera / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011537:Pruritus / Q000188:drug therapy; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins