Open AccessSafety and tolerance of recombinant leukocyte A interferon in bone marrow transplant recipients
Author(s) -
Drew J. Winston,
Winston G. Ho,
Robert W. Schroff,
Richard E. Champlin,
Robert Peter Gale
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.07
H-Index - 259
eISSN - 1070-6283
pISSN - 0066-4804
DOI - 10.1128/aac.23.6.846
Subject(s) - chills , bone marrow , toxicity , interferon , medicine , recombinant dna , immunology , bone marrow suppression , leukopenia , biology , biochemistry , gene
Five bone marrow transplant recipients with cytomegalovirus infections were treated with pure recombinant leukocyte A interferon produced by recombinant DNA technology from Escherichia coli. All five patients had documented interstitial pneumonia. The daily intramuscular dose of interferon ranged from 18 X 10(6) to 50 X 10(6) U; the mean duration of therapy was 11.0 days (range, 5 to 18 days). Two patients recovered, one improved, and two died. Clinical side effects (usually fever and chills) occurred in three patients. A 60% or greater reduction in the pretherapy peripheral granulocyte counts occurred in four patients, and four patients had a 37 to 80% reduction in their pretherapy platelet counts. Hematological toxicity was reversible, and there was no loss of marrow graft function. The toxicity of pure recombinant leukocyte A interferon in marrow transplants is similar to that of partially pure leukocyte interferon derived from human cells. Further controlled studies to establish the efficacy of recombinant leukocyte A interferon in marrow transplants are warranted but may be limited by hematological toxicity.