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Long‐term therapy of HIV‐associated Kaposi's sarcoma with recombinant interferon α‐2a
Author(s) -
SCHAART F.M.,
BRATZKE B.,
RUSZCZAK Zb.,
STADLER R.,
EHLERS G.,
ORFANOS C.E.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2133.1991.tb03283.x
Subject(s) - medicine , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , sarcoma , virology , recombinant dna , kaposi's sarcoma , interferon , immunopathology , sida , viral disease , immunology , pathology , biology , human herpesvirus , genetics , gene
Summary Five young male patients with HIV‐associated Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) were treated with recombinant interferon α 2a (rIFN‐α‐2a) over a period of 2–2.5 years. An IFN dose of 18x10 6 IU was given subcutaneously every day during the first 3 months of treatment and then on alternate days. Additional treatment with radiotherapy and laser therapy was given and, in some cases, isolated skin nodules were excised. Within 7 months of initiation of therapy one patient had a complete remission of his tumours, however, tumour progression recurred after the patient discontinued treatment. In another patient the tumour cleared within 9 months of rIFN therapy, and after 52 months he is still free of KS. The condition of a third patient tended to become stabilized during the first 6 months of therapy, but after 60 months there has been a slow progression. The fourth and fifth patients died 25 and 28 months, respectively, after the histological diagnosis of KS and the initiation of treatment. While on therapy with rIFN‐α‐2a, no life‐threatening opportunistic infections occurred. The side‐effects were mostly well tolerated, and no severe changes in haematological parameters were cause by the therapy.