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Recombinant human interferon gamma (Gamma Immunex) in treatment of atopic dermatitis

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Abstract

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, inflammatory skin disease which is characterized by severe pruritus and affects patients’ quality of life. In recent years gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) has been accepted as a novel treatment for severe AD, however, its mechanism of action is not clearly identified. Present study evaluated the effect of recombinant human interferon gamma (rIFN-gamma: Gamma Immunex, Exir Pharmaceutical Company, Iran) on severity of AD (SCORAD), dermatology life quality index (DLQI) as well as serum levels of IL-4, IgE and IL-6 in AD patients. Twenty AD patients were entered in to a study in Baqiyatallah outpatient clinics and received rIFN-gamma (50 μg/m2 body area, 3 times per week, subcutaneously) for 1 month. SCORAD and DLQI were assessed at beginning and end of the treatment period. IL-4, IL-6 and IgE were measured in blood samples before and after 1 month treatment with rIFN-gamma. DLQI mean value before treatment was 20.80 ± 3.95, which decreased to 8.20 ± 2.14 after treatment (P < 0.001). SCORAD-A (percentile of the body surface involved in AD), SCORAD-B (the severity of clinical features) and SCORAD-C (patients’ scaling of itching and somnolence) significantly decreased after treatment (P < 0.001, P < 0.001 and P < 0.01). Total SCORAD at the end of treatment period was less than basal value (27.83 ± 8.48 vs. 70.04 ± 8.48; P < 0.001). Treatment with rIFN-gamma decreased serum levels of IL-4 and IL-6 (P < 0.05), but IgE remained unchanged. Results suggested the controlling effect of rIFN-gamma treatment on clinical symptoms of AD, which involves suppression of IL-4 but not IgE production.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to Department of Internal Medicine, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, for providing experimental measurements and instrumental supports.

Conflict of interest

All funds for this study were from the Chemical Injuries Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, and there was no conflict of interest to other institutes. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chemical Injuries Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Yunes Panahi, Seyyed Masoud Davoudi & Nima Madanchi

  2. Skin Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Ehsan Abolhasani

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  1. Yunes Panahi
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  2. Seyyed Masoud Davoudi
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  3. Nima Madanchi
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  4. Ehsan Abolhasani
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Correspondence to Yunes Panahi.

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Panahi, Y., Davoudi, S.M., Madanchi, N. et al. Recombinant human interferon gamma (Gamma Immunex) in treatment of atopic dermatitis. Clin Exp Med 12, 241–245 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10238-011-0164-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10238-011-0164-3

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