RESOLUTION OF HEPATIC-ABSCESS AFTER INTERFERON-GAMMA IN CHRONIC GRANULOMATOUS-DISEASE

Recombinant interferon gamma has been used prophylactically in childre n with chronic granulomatous disease, but its role in the treatment of acute infective episodes has not been defined. A 3 year old boy prese nted with multiple candidal liver abscesses and was given intravenous antifungal treatment and he showed initial improvement. After six week s his erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C reactive protein remained r aised, and a computed tomogram showed a single abscess in the left lob e of the liver from which pus was drained and Staphylococcus aureus is olated. During the next eight months die abscess persisted despite app ropriate intravenous antibiotics and percutaneous drainage. Subphrenic extension precluded definitive surgery. Nine months after initial pre sentation recombinant interferon gamma 0.05 mg/m2 intravenously was co mmenced three times a week. Complete resolution occurred within two mo nths. It is concluded that interferon gamma is useful in treating infe ctive episodes, and further study of the use of prophylactic antimicro bial treatment and intermittent interferon gamma during acute episodes is now required.