Does interferon-gamma improve pulmonary function in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis?

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a disease with progressive and devastating deterioration of lung function and a fatal prognosis, despite aggressive therapeutic attempts, which, in the majority of cases are futile. Recently, a preliminary study of long-term treatment with interferon (IFN)-gamma1b and low-dose prednisolone in patients with IPF suggested that IFN-gamma1b treatment may improve lung function parameters of patients with IPF. Ever since, specialists in respiratory medicine who treat patients with IPF, are called by patients demanding treatment with IFN-gamma1b. Therefore, the authors here present another prospective investigation of IFN-gamma1b in five patients with IPF. According to the previously published design, patients received 200 microg IFN-gamma1b subcutaneously three-times per week and 10 mg prednisolone orally for 12 months. Two patients stopped IFN-gamma1b treatment after 4 months due to side-effects and further lung function deterioration and one patient died 3 months after commencement of therapy. In total, pulmonary function improved in only one patient during IFN-gamma1b treatment, while four patients deteriorated. To conclude, this small series of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis cases treated with interferon-gamma1b and corticosteroids does not support previous data that this treatment improves pulmonary function or alters the natural course of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Furthermore, in the authors' experience, side-effects of interferon-gamma1b treatment can significantly reduce patients' quality of life.