Endogenous Interferon in Argentine Hemorrhagic Fever

• Published in: The Journal of infectious diseases Vol. 149; no. 3; pp. 428 - 433
• Main Authors: Levis, S. C., Saavedra, M. C., Ceccoli, C., Falcoff, E., Feuillade, M. R., Enria, D. A. M., Maiztegui, J. I., Falcoff, R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago, IL The University of Chicago Press 01.03.1984; University of Chicago Press
• Subjects: Antibodies; Antivirals; Back Pain - etiology; Biological and medical sciences; Blood plasma; Epidemiology; Fever; Fever - etiology; Hemorrhagic Fever, American - blood; Hemorrhagic Fever, American - therapy; Human viral diseases; Humans; Immunization, Passive; Infectious diseases; Interferon Type I - blood; Interferons; Junin virus; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous; Nervous system diseases; Original Articles; Shivering; Symptoms; Viral cardiopathies; Viral diseases; Viremia - blood; Viruses; Argentine hemorrhagic fever; Interferon
• ISSN: 0022-1899; 1537-6613
• DOI: 10.1093/infdis/149.3.428

The induction of endogenous interferon (lFN) was studied in 28 cases of Argentine hemorrhagic fever (AHF), a severe systemic disease caused by Junin virus. Serum samples were taken daily during the acute period, both before and after administration of immune plasma. This form of treatment has been found to reduce mortality when given early in the course of AHF. High titers of circulating IFN were present in the serum samples taken before treatment. IFN titers drastically dropped after transfusion of immune plasma. The antiviral activity was stable at pH 2 and was completely neutralized only by antibodies against IFN-α. Thus, we concluded that circulating endogenous IFN in patients with AHF can be considered as typical IFN-α. Fever, chills, and backache were associated with the higher levels of IFN. An inverse correlation between days of evolution of the disease and IFN activity was also observed.