Use of cytokine therapy in primary immunodeficiency.

Of the six cytokine therapies approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, five of them have been used in patients with primary immunodeficiency (PID). In some applications, clear benefits have been demonstrated, while in others, effects have been more marginal. The most compelling current applications of cytokine therapy in PID are those of granulocyte colony stimulating factor in severe congenital neutropenia and interferon gamma in chronic granulomatous disease. Despite encouraging results with interleukin-2 in common variable immunodeficiency and select other indications, its use in PID is not widespread.