Interferon-α treatment in systemic mastocytosis

Patients with systemic mastocytosis are rare, constitute a heterogeneous clinical entity and some may not require treatment until long after diagnosis. However, most patients who present with disabling symptoms, organ involvement and fulfill B or C findings as outlined in the 2008 WHO classification need treatment. This review on interferon treatment in systemic mastocytosis documents an effect of this biological agent in some patients with mastocytosis. However, the place of interferon-α, as mono- or combination therapy, in the treatment algorithm may only be definitely established in multicenter studies, which are based on the principles of controlled clinical trials.