title: Treatment of hypereosinophilic syndromes with prednisone, hydroxyurea, and interferon.
abstract: The hypereosinophilic syndromes continue to challenge our clinical acumen and skills. Prednisone, hydroxyurea, and interferon alpha 2b are three of the oldest agents that allow control of eosinophilia and its devastating clinical consequences. They still work. As our experience with them has grown, it has become evident that use of these agents in combination will control eosinophilia in most patients. Moreover, with time, the doses can frequently be reduced. Even with the advent of newer agents for treatment of hypereosinophilic syndromes, these three medications still afford an excellent, cost-effective avenue for disease management.
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergic Diseases, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. butterfield.joseph@mayo.edu
authors.forename: Joseph H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Butterfield
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D006801:Humans; D006918:Hydroxyurea / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017681:Hypereosinophilic Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics / Q000503:physiopathology; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011241:Prednisone / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D011241:Prednisone; D006918:Hydroxyurea