ALPHA-INTERFERON THERAPY FOR CONGENITAL DYSERYTHROPOIESIS TYPE-I

We report the case of a 28-year-old female followed for congenital dys erythropoiesis type I which required repeated transfusions. Alpha-2a i nterferon treatment was started because of post-transfusion chronic vi ral hepatitis type C. Following this treatment, haemoglobin level incr eased and reached normal value during the 24 weeks of interferon treat ment, When interferon therapy was stopped, haemoglobin level returned to previous values, requiring more transfusions, Resumption of interfe ron therapy resulted again in a complete normalization of haemoglobin level. Erythrokinetic studies demonstrated a striking reduction of the ineffective erythropoiesis, and electron microscopy study a reduction in nuclear structure abnormalities, To our knowledge, this is the fir st report of the efficacy of interferon in congenital dyserythropoiesi s.