title: Interferon-alphacon-1 treatment of three patients with severe glucocorticoid-dependent asthma. Effect on disease control and systemic glucocorticosteroid dose.
abstract: We report herein the therapeutic effect of interferon (IFN)-alphacon in three patients with severe persistent asthma and long-term oral glucocorticoid treatment. IFN-alphacon (9 microg) administered subcutaneously thrice a week over a period of more than 24 months led to a substantial clinical improvement with regard to the number of daily asthma attacks, nighttime disturbance, emergency visits and hospitalizations. In addition, lung function and exercise capacity improved. At the same time, treatment with IFN allowed discontinuation of the daily glucocorticoid dose in all patients for the first time in more than 8 years. Our findings suggest that IFN-alphacon leads to a significant clinical improvement while at the same time allowing reduction and discontinuation of the glucocorticoid treatment in severe persistent glucocorticoid-dependent asthma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pneumology and Allergy, Medical Clinic I, Friedrich-Schiller University, Jena, Germany. claus.kroegel@med.uni-jena.de
authors.forename: Claus
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kroegel
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bergmann
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Foerster
authors.forename: Grefachew
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Workalemahu
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Machnik
authors.forename: Bettina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mock
authors.forename: Angelika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reissig
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D016898:Interferon-alpha