TOLERABILITY OF INTERFERON-ALPHA-2B, A POSSIBLE NEW TREATMENT OF ACTIVE CROHNS-DISEASE

Background and aims: Due to the need for new principles for the treatm ent of Crohn's disease and due to the documented immunomodulatory effe cts of interferon alpha, the tolerability and effect(s) of interferon alpha-2b (Introna) in active Crohn's disease were examined in a pilot study. Methods: Five patients with active Crohn's disease (activity in dex (CDAI) scores of 235-517), were treated with interferon alpha-2b f or 12 weeks. Results: All patients tolerated the treatment, but develo ped influenza-like symptoms, which were fully controlled by paracetamo l. Two patients obtained partial remission with a decline in activity index scores of 39% and 50%. The activity of 2',5'-oligoadenylate synt hetase, which together with two other interferon-induced proteins, neo pterin and beta(2)-microglobulin were increased during treatment, indi cated clearly an in vivo uptake of interferon. Sedimentation rate, C-r eactive protein, orosomucoid, albumin, specific inflammatory markers: soluble interleukin-2 alpha-receptors (sIL-2R) and intercellular adhes ion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) did not show any changes before or after treat ment. Conclusion: Future multicentre investigations are required to ev aluate the clinical effect of interferon alpha-2b treatment in active Crohn's disease.