A PILOT-STUDY ON THE EFFECT OF INTERFERON -ALPHA IN ATOPIC ECZEMA

In this pilot study 12 patients with moderate to severe atopic eczema were treated with 2 million IU interferon alpha 2a (Roferon A) three t imes weekly for 8 weeks and followed up for a further 10 weeks: 2 pati ents showed clear and 9 a slight to moderate reduction of their skin l esions; 1 patient got worse. Pruritus did not decrease and even increa sed in a few patients, and IgE levels showed no change during and afte r treatment. All patients noted mild, transient, flu-like symptoms. Th e efficacy of interferon alpha in the present therapeutic design for t he treatment of atopic eczema must thus be classified as only moderate .