title: Interferon-alpha in the idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome: consideration of five cases.
abstract: The therapy of the idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) is largely directed at controlling symptoms and preventing organ damage. Universally accepted therapeutic protocols for HES are still lacking. Patients are treated by different drugs and drug doses, and therapy appears to be mostly aimed at treating symptoms. However, in order to prevent organ damage the roles of the variously employed agents need to be clarified. Interferon was reported to be an effective agent in 44 patients, and our evaluation of five new cases suggested that IFN-alpha may be suitable as a first-line therapy.
authors.affiliation: Oncology Department, University of Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ceretelli
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Capochiani
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Petrini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D017681:Hypereosinophilic Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012729:Sex Chromosome Aberrations / Q000235:genetics; D014998:Y Chromosome
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha