Eur Respir J 2006; 27:1307-1310
Copyright ©ERS Journals Ltd 2006
Interferon- therapy in two patients with progressive chronic pulmonary aspergillosis
P. Kelleher1,2,
A. Goodsall3,
A. Mulgirigama4,
H. Kunst2,
D. C. Henderson1,
R. Wilson2,
A. Newman-Taylor4 and
M. Levin3
1 Dept of Immunology, Imperial College, Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, 2 Host Defence Unit, Royal Brompton Hospital, 3 Dept of Academic Paediatrics, Wright Fleming Building, Imperial College, St Mary's Hospital, and 4 Dept of Respiratory Medicine and the National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, Royal Brompton Hospital, London, UK.
CORRESPONDENCE: P. Kelleher, Dept of Immunology, Imperial College, Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, 369 Fulham Road, London SW10 9NH, UK. Fax: 44 20874667559. E-mail: p.kelleher{at}imperial.ac.uk
Keywords: Chronic pulmonary Aspergillus infection, interferon- therapy
Received: February 24, 2005
Accepted October 13, 2005
Infection by Aspergillus species causes a wide spectrum of pulmonary disease in humans.
In two patients with semi-invasive Aspergillus-induced lung disease, significantly reduced levels of interferon- secretion by peripheral blood mononuclear cells were found after in vitro stimulation with the T-cell mitogen phytohaemagglutinin. Despite anti-fungal therapy, both patients exhibited progressive disease, and adjunctive interferon- therapy was associated with significant clinical improvement.
The data suggest that impaired production of interferon- can be seen in patients with chronic pulmonary aspergillosis. Adjunctive cytokine therapy with interferon- may be useful in patients with progressive disease despite adequate anti-fungal therapy.
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[Abstract]
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Copyright © 2006 by the European Respiratory Society.
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