Interferon-gamma 1b: impact of new indications (idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis).
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a relentlessly progressive disease with inadequate response to conventional treatment with corticosteroids and/or immunosuppressive agents in most patients. Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), an antifibrotic agent, has been proposed as a novel therapeutic approach. Several investigators have shown a relative decrease in systemic and pulmonary IFN-gamma activity in patients with IPF. Experimental evidence from animal and human studies also suggests that IFN-gamma administration may ameliorate lung fibrosis. Clinical experience is, however, limited to a single clinical trial that showed objective functional improvement in a small number of patients treated with IFN-gamma and low-dose corticosteroids. Further research is needed to characterise the efficacy, safety and optimum route of administration of this agent before it can be recommended for use in routine clinical practice.
Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
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D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D007371:Interferon-gamma