LONG-TERM CONTROL OF POLYCYTHEMIA RUBRA VERA WITH RECOMBINANT ALPHA INTERFERON

• Published in: Hematological oncology Vol. 14; no. 1; pp. 37 - 40
• Main Authors: CLEMONS, M. J., WILLIAMS, Y. F., GOLDMAN, J. M., BARRETT, A. J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 01.03.1996; Wiley
• Subjects: alpha interferon; Antineoplastic agents; Biological and medical sciences; Humans; Immunotherapy; Interferon Type I - therapeutic use; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; polycythemia rubra vera; Polycythemia Vera - therapy; Recombinant Proteins; Time Factors; Human; Case study; Myeloproliferative syndrome; Treatment; Alpha interferon; Immunotherapy; Cytokine; Adult; Polycythemia vera; Hemopathy; Long term
• ISSN: 0278-0232; 1099-1069
• DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1099-1069(199603)14:1<37::AID-HON564>3.0.CO;2-F

The natural history of PRV is characterized by a prolonged period of myeloproliferation chiefly affecting the red cell series. It can be controlled by venesection and cytotoxic agents. In this case report the patient declined further ‘standard’ chemotherapy to control his disease and the use of relatively low doses of IFN‐a was successful in our patient in controlling myeloproliferation and stabilizing the disease over a prolonged period. These results support the use of IFN‐a, not only as a means of myelosuppression in PRV but also as an agent with the potential to prevent disease progression.