Effect of gamma interferon on lung function of mustard gas exposed patients, after 15 years.
BACKGROUND
Bronchiolitis has been known to be among the main the pathological features of lung lesions in Mustard Gas (MG) exposed patients. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the efficacy of interferon gamma-1b on the lung function in MG exposed patients with bronchiolitis.


METHODS
Thirty-six bronchiolitis patients, whose lung lesion had been diagnosed through High Resolution Computerized Tomography (HRCT) of the chest and also pathological study, were divided into two 18-member case and control groups. Both groups were receiving their conventional treatment (inhaled Felixotide and Servent). The case group were treated for 6 months with a combination of 200 microg of interferon gamma-1b (given three times per week subcutaneously) plus 7.5 mg of prednisolone (given once a day), while the control group received their previous conventional medications. Lung function was measured at base line and after 1, 3 and 6 months of treatment.


RESULTS
In case and control groups, Forced Expiratory Volume in first second (FEV1) did not have statistical differences at the base line (49.3 +/- 2.9 and 48.7 +/- 4.1, respectively = 0.6), whereas a significant increase was seen in the case group (66.3 +/- 5.4) compared control group (57.3 +/- 8.6) at the subsequent months (P = 0.001 for the difference between the groups). Similar pattern of increase was observed in Forced Vital Capacity (FVC).


CONCLUSIONS
The findings of this study indicate that a 6-month treatment with interferon gamma-1b plus a low-dose prednisolone is associated with an improvement in the lung function in mustard-gas exposed patients with bronchiolitis.
Ghanei
Mostafa
M
Research Center of Chemical Injuries, Baqiyatallah Medical Sciences University, Tehran, Iran. m.ghanei@bmsu.ac.ir
Panahi
Yoones
Y
Mojtahedzadeh
Mojtaba
M
Khalili
Ali Reza Hosseini
AR
Aslani
Jafar
J
D000328:Adult; D001989:Bronchiolitis Obliterans / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents / Q000506:poisoning*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D009151:Mustard Gas / Q000506:poisoning*; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D013997:Time Factors
D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D011239:Prednisolone; D009151:Mustard Gas