RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Does interferon‐γ improve pulmonary function in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis?
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP 906
OP 911
DO 10.1183/09031936.03.00091802
VO 22
IS 6
A1 A. Prasse
A1 K-M. Müller
A1 C. Kurz
A1 H. Hamm
A1 J.C. Virchow, Jr
YR 2003
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/22/6/906.abstract
AB Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a disease with progressive and devastating deterioration of lung function and a fatal prognosis, despite aggressive therapeutic attempts, which, in the majority of cases are futile. Recently, a preliminary study of long-term treatment with interferon (IFN)‐γ1b and low-dose prednisolone in patients with IPF suggested that IFN‐γ1b treatment may improve lung function parameters of patients with IPF. Ever since, specialists in respiratory medicine who treat patients with IPF, are called by patients demanding treatment with IFN‐γ1b. Therefore, the authors here present another prospective investigation of IFN‐γ1b in five patients with IPF. According to the previously published design, patients received 200 µg IFN‐γ1b subcutaneously three-times per week and 10 mg prednisolone orally for 12 months. Two patients stopped IFN‐γ1b treatment after 4 months due to side-effects and further lung function deterioration and one patient died 3 months after commencement of therapy. In total, pulmonary function improved in only one patient during IFN‐γ1b treatment, while four patients deteriorated. To conclude, this small series of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis cases treated with interferon‐γ1b and corticosteroids does not support previous data that this treatment improves pulmonary function or alters the natural course of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Furthermore, in the authors' experience, side-effects of interferon‐γ1b treatment can significantly reduce patients' quality of life.