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The interferons
1Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, USA.
Objective:
To provide a review of the biology, pharmacology, clinical application, and toxic effects of interferon and strategies for nursing management.
Data Sources:
Research studies, review articles, and book chapters pertaining to interferons.
Conclusions:
Interferons are active therapeutic agents for hairy cell leukemia, chronic myelogenous leukemia, melanoma, and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-related Kaposi's sarcoma. Clinical trials continue to investigate the clinical application of interferons.
Implications For Nursing Practice:
Oncology nurses can facilitate patient self-care in managing side effects of interferon therapy, provide patient and family education, and assist with reimbursement concerns.