Systemic interferon gamma treatment in severe atopic dermatitis

• Published in: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology Vol. 29; no. 1; pp. 58 - 63
• Main Authors: Reinhold, Uwe, Kukel, Sylvia, Brzoska, Josef, Kreysel, Hans Wilhelm
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Mosby, Inc 01.07.1993; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Dermatitis, Atopic - immunology; Dermatitis, Atopic - pathology; Dermatitis, Atopic - therapy; Drug Tolerance; Female; Humans; Immunoglobulin E - blood; Immunoglobulin G - blood; Immunoglobulin G - classification; Injections, Subcutaneous; Interferon-gamma - administration & dosage; Interferon-gamma - therapeutic use; Male; Medical sciences; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Pruritus - pathology; Pruritus - therapy; Recombinant Proteins; Remission Induction; Skin, nail, hair, dermoskeleton; Human; Immunopathology; Skin disease; Treatment; Atopic dermatitis; Cytokine; Adult; Systemic route; Gamma interferon
• ISSN: 0190-9622; 1097-6787
• DOI: 10.1016/0190-9622(93)70152-J

Background: Recent results suggest decreased interferon gamma (IFN-γ) but high interleukin 4 (IL-4) production in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD). Because the relative activities of IL-4 and IFN-γ seem to regulate the amplitude of the IgE response we suggested a role for IFN-γ in the treatment of AD. Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of systemic IFN-γ treatment in patients with severe AD. Methods: Patients with severe AD ( n = 14) were treated with recombinant IFN-γ for 6 weeks. During the study only basic local therapy with steroid-free hydrophilic or emollient ointments was allowed. Results: Eight patients (57%) showed marked clinical improvement during systemic IFN-γ therapy, Four of these patients showed continuous improvement 3 months after treatment was discontinued. Mean total and antigen-specific serum IgE concentrations were not statistically different during and after treatment, whereas mean spontaneous IgE production in vitro was significantly lower after 6 weeks of IFN-γ therapy. Conclusion: Our results suggest that IFN-γ treatment may represent a novel therapeutic approach in patients with severe AD.