Tolerability of interferon alpha-2b, a possible new treatment of active Crohn's disease

Due to the need for new principles for the treatment of Crohn's disease and due to the documented immunomodulatory effects of interferon alpha, the tolerability and effect(s) of interferon alpha-2b (Introna) in active Crohn's disease were examined in a pilot study.

Five patients with active Crohn's disease (activity index (CDAI) scores of 235-517), were treated with interferon alpha-2b for 12 weeks.

All patients tolerated the treatment, but developed influenza-like symptoms, which were fully controlled by paracetamol. Two patients obtained partial remission with a decline in activity index scores of 39% and 50%. The activity of 2',5'-oligoadenylate synthetase, which together with two other interferon-induced proteins, neopterin and beta 2-microglobulin were increased during treatment, indicated clearly an in vivo uptake of interferon. Sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, orosomucoid, albumin, specific inflammatory markers: soluble interleukin-2 alpha-receptors (sIL-2R) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) did not show any changes before or after treatment.

Future multicentre investigations are required to evaluate the clinical effect of interferon alpha-2b treatment in active Crohn's disease.