Therapy of essential thrombocythemia with alpha-interferon: Results and prospects
In: European Journal of Haematology, Jg. 45 (2009-04-24), S. 15-21
Online
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Zugriff:
Conventional treatment of symptomatic essential thrombocythemia (ET) consists of long-term administration of myelosuppressive cytotoxic agents which, although efficacious in most cases, are associated with leukemogenic potential. Alpha-interferon (IFN) exerts a dose-dependent inhibitory influence on thrombopoiesis through a direct antiproliferative effect on megakaryocytic precursors. Therefore, it may provide a biologic, potentially non-mutagenic alternative to conventional cytotoxic treatments. At daily doses ranging from 1 to 5 M.U., alpha-IFN is efficacious in inducing a hematologic response in most patients with ET. Response to IFN is a gradual process. The median time to hematologic response varies from 1 to 3 months and a significant proportion of patients reach and maintain normal platelet counts with low doses (1–3 M.U./d). Normalization of marrow megakaryocytosis requires longer treatment (9–12 months). Also patients resistant to cytotoxic drugs may respond to alpha-IFN, suggesting a lack of cross-resistance between the two treatment modalities. Side-effects, although not severe, represents a limit to the administration of adequate doses of IFN in about 25% of cases. Once hematologic response has been obtained, both low-dose IFN and cytotoxic drugs are effective as maintenance. The full potentialities of alpha-IFN in ET in combination with cytotoxic drugs or with other cytokines need to be further investigated.
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Therapy of essential thrombocythemia with alpha-interferon: Results and prospects
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Autor/in / Beteiligte Person: | Morra, E. ; Gagliardi, A. ; Castello, A. ; Bernasconi, Carlo ; Vitale, A. ; Lazzarino, M. ; Bernasconi, Paolo ; Mandelli, F. ; Torromeo, C. ; Inverardi, D. ; Burgio, V. L. |
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Zeitschrift: | European Journal of Haematology, Jg. 45 (2009-04-24), S. 15-21 |
Veröffentlichung: | Wiley, 2009 |
Medientyp: | unknown |
ISSN: | 1600-0609 (print) ; 0902-4441 (print) |
DOI: | 10.1111/j.1600-0609.1990.tb00899.x |
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