SYSTEMIC SCLERODERMA - MULTICENTER TRIAL OF 1-YEAR OF TREATMENT WITH RECOMBINANT INTERFERON-GAMMA

Objective: To confirm significant improvement of the skin score in sys temic sclerosis by treatment with interferon gamma in a larger group o f patients and to investigate on a molecular level the influence of in terferon gamma on collagen type I messenger RNA expression. Design: Op en, noncontrolled multicenter study. Setting: Five outpatient clinics specializing in the care of systemic scleroderma. Patients: Thirty-two patients suffering from the diffuse or limited form of systemic scler osis and progressive disease were recruited; 20 patients finished the study. Intervention: Each patient received interferon gamma, 50 mu g s ubcutaneously 3 times a week for 1 year. Main Outcome Measure: Skin sc ore, collagen type I messenger RNA in skin biopsy specimens. Results: The patients who completed the study showed an unchanged median skin s core after 1 year of therapy. In addition, similar collagen type I mes senger RNA levels were detected in skin biopsy specimens taken from in volved skin before and after therapy in these patients. Conclusions: T reatment of systemic scleroderma with interferon gamma is associated w ith stabilization of the skin score and lack of worsening of visceral involvement.