Diabetes mellitus tipo 1 en una paciente con hepatitis c durante el tratamiento con interferón alfa. Primer caso comunicado en Cuba / Type 1 diabetes mellitus in patient with hepatitis c treated with interferon á. First case in Cuba

El Interferón alfa (IFN-alfa), se utiliza junto a otros antivirales en el tratamiento de la hepatitis C crónica. Se han descrito alteraciones autoinmunes durante su uso, destacándose las enfermedades del tiroides y la diabetes mellitus tipo 1 (DM 1), entre otras. Se presenta el caso de una paciente con hepatitis C crónica que a los 6 meses de tratamiento con IFN-alfa y Ribavirina, manifestó síntomas graves de coma, cetoácidosis metabólica, hiperglucemía y deshidratación. Se diagnosticó el inicio de una DM 1 secundaria a la administración del IFN-alfa. No tenía antecedentes personales o familiares de factores genéticos predisponentes para el desarrollo de ésta enfermedad. Fue tratada en una Unidad de Urgencias Medicas, donde recibió medicamentos para el control de sus manifestaciones. Se suspendió la administración de IFN-alfa y se mantiene con tratamiento ambulatorio, aplicándose la insulina en dosis fraccionada, ajustada a los valores de glucemia

Interferon a (IFN-a), is used together with other antivirals in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C. Autoimmune disorders have been described during its use, particularly thyroid diseases and type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1), among others. We report the case of a patient with chronic hepatitis C, showing severe symptoms of coma, metabolic ketoacidosis, hyperglycemia and dehydration after 6 months of treatment with IFN-aand ribavirin. The beginning of a secondary DM 1 at the administration of IFN-a was diagnosed. There was no personal or family history of genetic factors predisposing to the development of this disease. The patient was treated in an Emergency Medical Unit (MEU) where medication to control its manifestations was received. Administration of IFN-a was suspended and the ambulatory treatment is maintained, applying insulin in fractional doses adjusted to blood glucose values

Clinical and serological manifestations associated with interferon-α levels in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus

OBJECTIVE: To determine the serum levels of interferon alpha in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus patients, their first-degree relatives and healthy controls and to evaluate the associations between serum interferon alpha and disease activity, laboratory findings and treatment features. METHODS: We screened consecutive childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus patients in a longitudinal cohort at the pediatric rheumatology unit of the State University of Campinas between 2009 and 2010. All patients demonstrated disease onset before the age of 16. Disease status was assessed according to the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) and Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index (SDI). Interferon alpha levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay. RESULTS: We included 57 childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus patients (mean age 17.33±4.50), 64 firstdegree relatives (mean age 39.95±5.66), and 57 healthy (mean age 19.30±4.97) controls. Serum interferon alpha levels were significantly increased in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus patients compared to their firstdegree relatives and healthy controls. Interferon alpha levels were significantly increased in patients with positive dsDNA antibodies, patients with cutaneous vasculitis, patients with new malar rash and patients who were not receiving medication. Interferon alpha levels correlated with C3 levels and systemic lupus erythematosus Disease Activity Index scores. In addition, we observed an inverse correlation between patient age and interferon alpha levels. CONCLUSION: Interferon alpha may play a role in the pathogenesis of childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus, especially in cutaneous manifestations and dsDNA antibody formation. The observation that interferon alpha levels are increased in patients who are not taking medication should be investigated in longitudinal studies to determine whether elevated interferon alpha levels may predict systemic lupus erythematosus flares.

Comparison of efficacy and safety of pegylated interferon alfa-2a or adefovir dipivoxil monotherapy with combination therapy in HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis B patients / 中华传染病杂志

Objective To compare the clinical efficacy and safety of pegylated interferon α-2a (Peg IFN α-2a) or adefovir dipivoxil(ADV) monotherapy and their combination therapy in HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. Methods An open randomized controlled multicenter clinical trial was performed. One hundred and twenty cases with CHB were divided into 3 groups: Peg IFN α-2a monotherapy (group A), ADV monotherapy (group B) and Peg IFN α-2a plus ADV combination therapy (group C). The virological response (VR), serological response (HBeAg, HBsAg clearance and seroconversion), biochemical response (BR) and sustained response (SR) were tested at week 24 and 48 of therapy and week 48 of follow-up after end of treatment (EOT) for'evaluation of therapeutic effects, safety and drug resistance. The efficacy was compared using X2 test. Results At week 48 of treatment, the VR (HBV DNA ≤500 copy/mL) rates were 36. 8%(14/38), 37. 5%(15/40) and 62. 9% (22/35), respectively in groups A, B and C; that in group C was higher than those in groups A and B (X2 = 4. 933, 4. 801, respectively; both P < 0. 05); HBeAg seroconversion rates in three groups were 44. 7% (17/38), 17. 5% (7/40) and 51. 4% (18/35), respectively. At week 48 of follow-up,SR rates in three groups were 34. 2%(13/38), 15. 0%(6/40) and 48. 6% (17/35), respectively; those in groups C and A were higher than that in group B (X2 = 9. 894,P<0. 01;X2 =3. 903, P<0. 05, respectively). Conclusions VRs at week 24 and 48 of Peg IFN α-2a plus ADV combination therapy are better than Peg IFN α-2a or ADV monotherapy. SRs at week 48 of follow-up after Peg IFN α-2a monotherapy and combination therapy are both better than ADV monotherapy.

Humoral and cellular immune responses to Blomia tropicalis and concanavalin A-binding fractions in atopic patients

Blomia tropicalis, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and D. farinae are prevalent house dust mites. Concanavalin A-binding components derived from B. tropicalis (Bt-ConA extract) are highly immunogenic in allergic diseases. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the humoral and cellular immune responses to B. tropicalis in mite-sensitized patients. A total of 137 patients with allergic rhinitis with/without asthma and 109 non-atopic subjects were selected and analyzed by the skin prick test, and for total serum IgE and specific IgE levels to both Bt-total and Bt-ConA extracts, their proliferative response and cytokine (IFN-ã and IL-5) production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) stimulated with both extracts. Skin prick test showed that 70 percent of the patients were sensitized to Bt (Bt+) and similar levels of specific IgE to Bt-total and Bt-ConA extracts were demonstrable in Bt+ patients. Significant PBMC proliferation was observed in response to Bt-total extract in Bt+, but not in Bt- patients and non-atopic subjects (P < 0.001). Bt-ConA extract induced increased proliferative responses in all patient groups compared to medium alone (P < 0.05), but these responses were significantly decreased in the presence of the mannopyranoside ConA inhibitor (P < 0.05). Significant IFN-ã production was observed after Bt-ConA stimulation of Bt+ patients (P < 0.05), while Bt-total extract had no effect. IL-5 production was consistently detected in Bt+ patients after allergen-specific stimulation or with no stimulus, indicating that PBMC from allergic patients are prone to produce Th2 profile cytokines, spontaneously or inductively by allergen restimulation. These data showed that ConA-binding components isolated from B. tropicalis may contain relevant antigens that are involved in both humoral and cellular immune responses. However, without an additional purification procedure to eliminate the residual contamination with...

Comparison study of interferon-a combined chemotherapy versus chemotherapy only in patients with invasive uterine cervical cancer / 대한부인종양콜포스코피학회잡지

This study is to evaluate therapeutic effects between interferon-a combined chemotherapy and chemotherapy(5-fluorouracil, cisplatin) only in invasive uterine cervical cancer. The study included 35 cases of interferon-a combined chemotherapy group and 50 cases of chemotherapy(5-FU, cisplatin) only group. Then we analyzed the therapeutic effects with respect to size of tumor, number of lymphocyte subsets and NK activity, and SCC Ag(squamous cell carcinoma antigen) level in peripheral blood. (continue)

In Vitro Study of the Effects of Interferon-? on Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia Cells in LTBMC / 中国肿瘤生物治疗杂志

The effects of interferon-? (IFN-?) on chronic myelogenous leukemia cells were studied in vitro by long-term bone marrow culture(LTBMC). There were no inhibition of cellularity from non-adherent layers and formation of adherent layers, however, CFU-GM from non-adherent layers was inhibited at IFN-? 103U/ml and 104 U/ml groups, when IFN-?was added only at initiation of culture. If IFN-? was continuously added weekly, the cellularity and CFU-GM of non-adherent layers were significantly inhibited, and the formation of adherent layers was inversely associated with the increasing concentration of IFN-?. in addition, Ph(+) cells in non-adherent layers were disappeared early and the percentage of Ph(-) population was increased with the combination of IFN-? and LTBMC. It is concluded that IFN-?selectively inhibits the later CFU-GM of CML cells and the development of stromal cells, the combination of IFN-?and LTBMC might exert a synergically purging effect on Ph(+) CML cells

Experimental and clinical study on interferon-a inducing apoptosis of lymphoma cells / 中国免疫学杂志

Objective:To study the direct effects of gradient concentration inteiferon-a(IFN-a) on lymphoma cells line Daudi and Jur-kat and a group of 15 cases refractory lymphoma. Methods: The effects of IFN-a on the growth of tumor cells were assayed by MTT, apoptosis were measured by flow cytometty, TUNEL and electron-microscope, 15 refractory lymphoma cases were treated by local injection of IFN-a combination chemotherapy.Results: Low-dose IFN-a did not have any significant effects on growth of Daudi and Jurkat cells, high-dose IFN-a (10 000U/ml) not only have significant anti-proliferative effects with dependence of time and dosage but also can induce apoptosis on both Daudi and Jurkat cells. 5 patients achieved a complete remission and 7 patients achieved a partial remission, the overall response rate was 80% .Conclusion:IFN-a( 10 000 U/ml) had significant anti-proliferative effects and inducing apoptosis on lymphoma cells.Local injection of IFN-a is one of effective therapy on refractory lymphoma.