A subset of patients treated with recombinant interferon alpha-2a (rIFN-alpha 2a) for idiopathic mixed cryoglobulinemia (IMC) developed clinical resistance to therapy after a sustained response. Neutralizing antibodies to rIFN-alpha 2a were found in the sera of three out of four such patients, and in none of the patients who remained responsive to treatment. rIFN-alpha 2a neutralizing antibodies appeared in serum samples of the former three patients 1, 5 and 6 months before evidence for clinical resistance, respectively. Antibody titres to rIFN-alpha 2a were consistently higher than those to natural interferon (nIFN). In the fourth patient with clinical resistance, neutralizing antibodies could not be detected by a very sensitive bioassay in any of several serum samples taken before and after relapse. All the four patients could be reinduced into remission by the administration of nIFN-alpha. These data indicate that mechanisms other than the production of neutralizing antibodies can mediate acquired resistance to IFN therapy. Furthermore, both antibody-related and -unrelated resistance can be overcome by switching to different species of IFN-alpha.
Autori interni: | ||
Autori: | Casato, M; Antonelli, G; Maggi, F; Pucillo, L P; Di Lullo, L; Leoni, M; Currenti, M; Dianzani, F; Bonomo, L | |
Titolo: | Resistance to recombinant alpha interferon therapy in idiopathic mixed cryoglobulinemia: reinduction of remission by natural alpha interferon both in antibody-positive and -negative patients | |
Anno del prodotto: | 1994 | |
Appare nelle tipologie: | 1.1 Articolo in rivista |