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Long‐term treatment with interferon‐α2b for severe pruritus in patients with polycythaemia vera
Author(s) -
Muller E. W.,
Wolf J. Th. M. de,
Egger R.,
Wijermans P. W.,
Huijgens P. C.,
Halie M. R.,
Vellenga E.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
british journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.907
H-Index - 186
eISSN - 1365-2141
pISSN - 0007-1048
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2141.1995.tb03306.x
Subject(s) - polycythaemia , medicine , polycythemia vera , interferon , tolerability , gastroenterology , interferon alfa , regimen , hydroxycarbamide , alpha interferon , immunology , chemotherapy , adverse effect
Summary. Pruritus is a major clinical problem in patients with polycythaemia vera (PV). Conventional symptomatic treatment is unsatisfactory. Recently, a favourable effect of interferon‐α on pruritus in patients with PV has been reported. Also, interferon‐α suppresses the increased haemopoiesis in PV. However, long‐term treatment with interferon‐α may be hampered by side‐effects and the inconvenience of chronic subcutaneous injection therapy. We conducted a long‐term study (median follow‐up 13 months) of the efficacy and tolerability of interferon‐α in 15 patients (mean age 68 years) with PV and severe pruritus. Six patients were evaluable after 1 year. Pruritus significantly improved in 12/15 patients. Haematological control improved, as evidenced by a decreased number of phlebotomies from a mean of 4.3 in the year before the study to 1.8 while on interferon‐α. Leucocyte and platelet numbers also decreased significantly. Five patients (33%) did not tolerate interferon‐α. The effects of interferon‐α could not be ascribed to an inhibitive effect on histamine production or to the disappearance of the abnormal erythroid progenitor clone, because erythropoietin‐independent erythroid colony formation persisted during interferon‐α treatment. We conclude that long‐term interferon‐α treatment is feasible and effectively relieves pruritus in patients with PV, but side‐effects are an important concern. The optimal dose regimen that is well tolerated, relieves pruritus, and offers satisfactory haematological control at the same time remains to be established.