GRAFT-VERSUS-HOST DISEASE FOLLOWING INTERFERON THERAPY FOR RELAPSED CHRONIC MYELOID-LEUKEMIA POST-ALLOGENEIC BONE-MARROW TRANSPLANTATION

The combination of donor leucocytes, with or without interferon, has p roduced encouraging responses in patients with haematological relapse following allogeneic BMT for chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). A 25-yea r-old male received low-dose interferon-alpha alone for haematological relapse occurring 10 months following an allogeneic BMT for Ph-positi ve CML. Interferon therapy was complicated by severe GVHD requiring im munosuppressive therapy. The patient was subsequently found to be in c omplete haematological and cytogenetic remission, raising the possibil ity of an immune-mediated antileukaemic action.