Treatment of thrombocytosis in myeloproliferative disorders with interferon alpha-2a

Abstract

In an open prospective pilot trial, we tested the effect of recombinant interferon alpha-2 a (rIFN alpha-2 a) on thrombocytosis in myeloproliferative disorders (MPD). Since October 1986, 13 patients with MPD (4 with chronic granulocytic leukemia, 4 with polycythemia vera, 3 with essential thrombocythemia and 2 with myeloid metaplasia) were treated with rIFN alpha-2 a. Platelet counts decreased in all treated patients within 2 to 10 weeks from a median value of 1,050 x 10(9)/l (range 610-1,940 x 10(9)/l) to 340 x 10(9)/l (range 230-495 x 10(9)/l). The response was dose-dependent. In 11 patients we observed a simultaneous reduction of the white blood cell count. Six patients still continue the IFN alpha-2 a therapy. In 7 treatment was discontinued, because of chronic side effects in 3, and because of noncompliance in one. In these patients, thrombocytosis recurred after discontinuation of the therapy. These results show that rIFN alpha-2 a is effective in controlling thrombocytosis in MPD. However, the long-term benefit of interferon in these disorders remains to be established.

Therapy of essential thrombocythemia with alpha‐interferon: Results and prospects

“…Tichelli et al (39) administered interferon alpha-2a to 13 patients with myeloproliferative disorders (4 CML, 4 PV, 3 ET and 2 myeloid metaplasias), all with elevated thrombocytosis. A normalization of platelet counts was obtained in 11/13.…”

Management of Essential Thrombocythemia during Pregnancy with Aspirin, Interferon Alpha-2a and No Treatment

“…IFN-α inhibits the growth of megakaryocyte colonies in the bone marrow of patients with ET and normal patients in vitro and in vivo [45, 46, 47]. IFN-α is effective in the treatment of ET by lowering the platelet count [21, 33, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53]. IFN-α reduces the platelet production rate and the peripheral platelet count in ET mainly by an antiproliferative action on the megakaryocytes and to a considerably lesser degree by a shortening of platelet mean life span [47].…”

Polycythemia Vera: Perspectives for Future Clinical Trials

“…65-100% of patients treated with doses of 9-21 MU per week reached complete or almost complete hematological remission [36][37][38][39][40][41][42]. In single cases, disappearance of a chromosomal abnormality suggests a preferential efficacy on the abnormal done [43,44).…”