Long-term Effect of Recombinant Interferon-Gamma on Moderate and Severe Atopic Dermatitis in Childhood.
- Author:
Hyun A KIM
1
;
So Won YOON
;
Myung Gul YUM
;
Chang Ryul KIM
;
Se Min LEE
;
Ha Baik LEE
;
Jae Won OH
Author Information
1. Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea. jaewonoh@hanyang.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Children;
Atopic dermatitis;
Interferon-gamma;
Eosionophil
- MeSH:
Biomarkers;
Child;
Dermatitis, Atopic;
Eosinophils;
Humans;
Immunoglobulin E;
Interferon-gamma;
Neutrophils
- From:Pediatric Allergy and Respiratory Disease
2008;18(3):236-242
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: A number of studies on the treatment of atopic dermatitis have focused on the therapeutic effects of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in patients with severe atopic dermatitis, although therapeutic protocols such as duration and dosage of recombinant IFN-gamma were different among studies. The beneficial effects of IFN-gamma have probably been attributed mainly to its immune modulating effect on the expression of several immunologic mediators although the mechanism of action of IFN-gamma therapy in atopic dermatitis is not clear. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the therapeutic effect of recombinant IFN-gamma on moderate to severe atopic dermatitis with changes in immunologic markers such as IgE level and eosionophil cationic protein (ECP). METHODS: Thirty children with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis were selected for the treatment with recombinant IFN-gamma, and 10 children with atopic dermatitis were recruited for the controls without IFN-gamma treatment. They were followed up every 4 weeks for 3 months after IFN-gamma treatment. We evaluated the SCORAD index and immunologic markers including serum IgE and ECP and total eosinophil and neutrophil counts. RESULTS: Significant clinical improvement in reduced SCORAD index was observed 12 weeks after treatment with regimen of recombinant IFN-gamma. This clinical outcome was correlated more with changes in eosinophil counts and ECP levels than with those in serum IgE levels. CONCLUSIONS: The efficacy of recombinant human IFN-gamma therapy for children with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis was maintained without serious side effects for 6 months after final injection of recombinant IFN-gamma. Recombinant IFN-gamma therapy corrected cellular immune deficits, but not humoral immune defects in patients with atopic dermatitis.
