title: Interferon-gamma therapy in two patients with progressive chronic pulmonary aspergillosis.
abstract: Infection by Aspergillus species causes a wide spectrum of pulmonary disease in humans. In two patients with semi-invasive Aspergillus-induced lung disease, significantly reduced levels of interferon-gamma secretion by peripheral blood mononuclear cells were found after in vitro stimulation with the T-cell mitogen phytohaemagglutinin. Despite anti-fungal therapy, both patients exhibited progressive disease, and adjunctive interferon-gamma therapy was associated with significant clinical improvement. The data suggest that impaired production of interferon-gamma can be seen in patients with chronic pulmonary aspergillosis. Adjunctive cytokine therapy with interferon-gamma may be useful in patients with progressive disease despite adequate anti-fungal therapy.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Immunology, Imperial College, Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, 369 Fulham Road, London SW10 9NH, UK. p.kelleher@imperial.ac.uk
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kelleher
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Goodsall
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mulgirigama
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kunst
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Henderson
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Newman-Taylor
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Levin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D001232:Aspergillus fumigatus / Q000187:drug effects; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000382:microbiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D018450:Disease Progression; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008172:Lung Diseases, Fungal / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D007371:Interferon-gamma