ALPHA-INTERFERON TREATMENT IN ATOPIC-DERMATITIS

Eight patients suffering from atopic dermatitis were treated with inte rferon alpha2b. They received low or intermediate doses (9-15 X 10(6) U/week) for a short period of time (4-8 weeks), with a moderate improv ement of skin lesions in 4 of them and no change or an exacerbation of the disease in the other 4. Among the 4 patients who slightly improve d at 4 weeks, 3 did not show any beneficial effect of interferon after 8 weeks. Serum IgE levels, which were increased in all patients befor e treatment, were not reduced under interferon therapy. This study sho ws that intermediate doses of interferon alpha2b are not effective in the short-term treatment of atopic dermatitis.