Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 16, 2026

High-throughput Quantitative Real-time RT-PCR Assay for Determining Expression Profiles of Types I and III Interferon Subtypes
Published on: March 24, 2015
Interferon-alpha treatment of four patients with the Churg-Strauss syndrome
E Tatsis1, A Schnabel, W L Gross
1Medical University of Lübeck, Germany.
Background:
Interferon-alpha is reported to have a beneficial effect on patients with the idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome.
Objective:
To study the effect of interferon-alpha on the Churg-Strauss syndrome.
Design:
Case series.
Setting:
University hospital.
Patients:
Four patients with biopsy-proven Churg-Strauss syndrome.
Intervention:
Interferon-alpha at dosages of 7.5 to 63 million U per week.
Measurements:
Disease extent, disease activity, and blood eosinophil count in a treatment period ranging from 14 to 25 months.
Results:
Interferon-alpha therapy led to remission of disease and a substantial reduction of the prednisolone requirement in two patients who had attained incomplete remission with cyclophosphamide or methotrexate. The third patient's condition stabilized, and the fourth patient maintained remission. During interferon-alpha therapy, the blood eosinophil count in all patients decreased in a dose-dependent manner and paralleled the extent of clinical disease and disease activity.
Conclusions:
Interferon-alpha may be an effective treatment for the Churg-Strauss syndrome. It seems to exert its effect primarily by producing a dose-dependent decrease in the blood eosinophil count.
Related Concept Videos
Myasthenia Gravis: Overview and Treatment
These antibodies interfere with the function of the nicotinic receptors in three ways: by binding to the receptor and disrupting acetylcholine binding; by causing cross-linking of receptors which leads...
COPD: Management Using Bronchodilators and Corticosteroids
Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Prostacyclin Receptor Agonists
These agonists bind to the IPR receptor situated on the plasma membrane of the pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells. This binding triggers a cascade of reactions known as the GS-AC-cAMP-PKA pathway. This pathway results in the relaxation of smooth muscle...
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-V: Management
Smoking Cessation
Asthma-IV: Diagnostic and Management
Clinical Assessment for Asthma:
This is the first step in diagnosing and managing asthma. It includes:
Inhibitors of Viral Protein Synthesis
