RECOMBINANT HUMAN INTERFERON-ALPHA-2B (RH IFN-ALPHA-2B) THERAPY FOR STEROID-RESISTANT IDIOPATHIC THROMBOCYTOPENIC PURPURA (ITP)

The efficacy of recombinant human interferon alpha-2b (rh IFN alpha-2b ) in the treatment of steroid resistant idiopathic thrombocytopenic pu rpura (ITP) was studied in 50 cases. Forty-one patients treated with r h IFN alpha-2b three times a week, six of 18 (33.3%) in the low dose g roup (150 x 10(4)IU: 3 MIU) and four of 20 (20.0%) in the high dose gr oup (300 x 10(4)IU: 3 MIU) responded with platelet counts increasing t o above 50 x 10(9)/L, Because of the exacerbation of thrombocytopenia and nasal bleeding, treatment was discontinued within 2 weeks in three patients out of 41 cases, On the other hand, six of nine patients (66 .7%) treated with 3 MIU of IFN alpha-2b once a week for 8 weeks showed satisfactory response.Treatment with either administration schedule d id not result in sustaining platelet counts above 50 x 10(9)/1 for a l ong time after treatment, The results indicate that once a week admini stration schedule of rh IFN alpha-Pb is more efficacious for platelet counts increasing for short period in patients who failed to respond t o steroid and other medications than other schedules, The maintenance of this treatment schedule will allow sustained increased platelet lev els, resulting in relief of bleeding tendency, while also being cost e ffective in comparison with other IFN treatment schedules and achievin g better patient compliance without flu-like symptoms. (C) 1996 Wiley- Liss, Inc.