alpha-Interferon in myelofibrosis: a case report

A patient with advanced myeloid metaplasia was treated with alpha-interferon (29 months) with a remarkable response. He had anaemia, thrombocytopenia and hepatosplenomegaly with infarction. The initial bone marrow showed replacement with fibrosis with no evident haemopoietic cells. Post-therapy, the patient became asymptomatic, transfusion independent and had normal blood counts. The repeat bone marrow was 30% cellular with 1 + reticulin and no fibrosis. Treatment was well tolerated without appreciable side-effects. These results indicate that prolonged therapy with alpha-interferon can improve haemopoiesis and reverse marrow fibrosis.