Recombinant alpha-interferon therapy in multiple myeloma

Three patients with multiple myeloma were treated with recombinant alpha-interferon (r IFN-alpha 2b Intron AR) along with combination chemotherapy i.e. melphelan and prednisolone. In one case it was given as an initial therapy, while the other two patients had refractory and relapsing disease respectively. IFN-alpha 2b was given in the dose of 2 x 10(6) Mu/m2 by subcutaneous injection thrice in a week for six months in two patients and for three months in one patient. All three patients experienced improvement in bone pains; partial response with reduction in the paraprotein level was seen in one patient; while there was no radiological, biochemical or haematological improvement in two patients. Side effects noted were flu like syndrome in all three patients and urticaria in one patient. They were treated symptomatically and did not require cessation of interferon therapy.