Recombinant leukocyte A interferon for the treatment of serious viral infections after marrow transplant: a phase I study.

Six marrow-transplant patients with serious virus infections (four with cytomegalovirus and two with adenovirus) were treated with recombinant leukocyte alpha interferon at daily doses of 6,000,000-50,000,000 units to determine safety and tolerance. Fever and gastrointestinal side effects attributable to interferon occurred in two patients each. Hepatic function abnormalities were observed in all six patients, although five had such abnormalities before treatment. Treatment of one patient was stopped because of apparent suppression of marrow activity. Natural cytotoxic activity increased in the four patients treated for cytomegalovirus infection. All six patients died of pneumonia, with four proven to have cytomegalovirus-related pneumonia at autopsy. Except for the presence of abnormal hepatic function, recombinant leukocyte alpha interferon was well tolerated after marrow transplantation. Efficacy remains to be established in treatment or prophylactic trials.

Duke Scholars

Author Keith Michael Sullivan Medicine, Hematologic Malignancies and Cellular Therapy