The use of the anti-malaria drug Fansidar (pyrimethamine and sulphadoxine) in the treatment of a patient with autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome and Fas deficiency.
Fas is a protein that plays a major role in the apoptotic mechanism of several cell types, including white blood cells (WBC). Mutations of the Fas gene in humans are known to lead to autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS). Glucocorticoids or cytostatic drugs are sometimes used to treat the lymphoproliferation in these patients. When treated with the anti-malaria drug Fansidar, a patient with ALPS showed a marked shrinkage of the lymph node masses, decrease in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) and an increase in neutrophil numbers. In addition, an increased Fas expression was seen on all types of leucocytes.
Laboratory of Physiology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium.
J E
JE
van der Werff ten Bosch
C
C
Demanet
N
N
Balduck
M H
MH
Bakkus
H
H
De Raeve
B
B
Desprechins
J
J
Otten
K
K
Thielemans
D000962:Antimalarials / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008232:Lymphoproliferative Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011739:Pyrimethamine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013413:Sulfadoxine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013577:Syndrome; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000097:blood*
D000962:Antimalarials; D004338:Drug Combinations; D019014:fas Receptor; C001205:fanasil, pyrimethamine drug combination; D013413:Sulfadoxine; D011739:Pyrimethamine