Effectiveness of IFN-gamma for liver abscesses in chronic granulomatous disease

In chronic granulomatous disease, interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) significantl y reduces the incidence and severity of recurrent infections, but its effec tiveness administered ex novo during acute infection has been reported in o nly one case. In this report, we describe two adult brothers with chronic g ranulomatous disease treated successfully with IFN-gamma for acute liver ab scesses. Two brothers with severe recurrent infections of unknown origin we re hospitalized for septic fever, malnutrition, and ultrasonographic eviden ce of liver abscess. Autosomal recessive chronic granulomatous disease was diagnosed based on lack of superoxide anion production by phagocytes and ab sence of p47-phox protein. An antibiotic regimen specifically directed agai nst Staphylococcus aureus was ineffective, whereas treatment with 50 mu g/m (2) IFN-gamma s.c. thrice weekly induced complete healing with scarring wit hin 3 months, No septic recurrence was observed during a 4-year follow-up p eriod. In chronic granulomatous disease, IFN-gamma is effective not only in preventing but also in healing life-threatening acute infections.