Use of interferons in atopic (IgE-mediated) diseases.

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the possible therapeutic effects of interferon alpha and gamma in the management of atopic dermatitis (AD) and hyperimmunoglobulin E syndrome (HIES). A total of three patients with severe AD/HIES were studied. Two patients with AD (patients no. 1 and 2) were treated initially with IFN-gamma (0.05 mg/m2, thrice weekly). Although initial improvement was observed in both patients, due to the incomplete resolution of the disease in patient no. 1 (severity score decreased from 14 to 6), IFN-gamma was replaced by IFN-alpha (3 x 10(6) U/m2, thrice weekly) which offered further improvement (severity score decreased to 3). Patient no. 2 had a recurrence of the disease activity at the fourth week, which did not respond to an increased dose of IFN-gamma (0.1 mg/m2), hence the medication was changed to IFN-alpha (0.5 x 10(6) U/m2, thrice weekly). Following an additional 20 weeks therapy with IFN-alpha, the lesions improved dramatically and reached complete remission (severity score decreased from 12 to 0). A third patient with HIES was treated with IFN-gamma (0.05 mg/m2, thrice weekly), following which the disease severity score improved from 11 to 3 in 20 weeks. This preliminary study supports the therapeutic effect of IFNs in patients with atopic diseases. The sequential or combined usage of IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma may offer additional therapeutic benefit. The data further suggest that non-IgE-related mechanism(s) may also play an important role in this treatment modality.