Related Experiment Videos
Systemic scleroderma. Multicenter trial of 1 year of treatment with recombinant interferon gamma
N Hunzelmann1, S Anders, G Fierlbeck
1Department of Dermatology, University of Cologne, Germany.
Objective:
To confirm significant improvement of the skin score in systemic sclerosis by treatment with interferon gamma in a larger group of patients and to investigate on a molecular level the influence of interferon gamma on collagen type I messenger RNA expression.
Design:
Open, noncontrolled multicenter study.
Setting:
Five outpatient clinics specializing in the care of systemic scleroderma.
Patients:
Thirty-two patients suffering from the diffuse or limited form of systemic sclerosis and progressive disease were recruited; 20 patients finished the study.
Intervention:
Each patient received interferon gamma, 50 micrograms subcutaneously 3 times a week for 1 year.
Main Outcome Measure:
Skin score, collagen type I messenger RNA in skin biopsy specimens.
Results:
The patients who completed the study showed an unchanged median skin score after 1 year of therapy. In addition, similar collagen type I messenger RNA levels were detected in skin biopsy specimens taken from involved skin before and after therapy in these patients.
Conclusions:
Treatment of systemic scleroderma with interferon gamma is associated with stabilization of the skin score and lack of worsening of visceral involvement.