10 patients with borderline and lepromatous leprosy were selected for a prolonged trial with recombinant interferon gamma (rIFN-gamma). Patients received 30 micrograms intradermally for six injections over a 9-d period, and then either 100 micrograms intradermally every 1 mo for 10 mo or every 2 wk for 5 mo (total, 1.2 mg). Erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL) was induced in 60% of the patients within 6-7 mo, as compared with an incidence of 15% per year with multiple drug therapy alone. The mean whole-body reduction in bacterial index over the first 6 mo was 0.9 log units. Cutaneous induration at the intradermal injection sites of greater than or equal to 15 mm predicted the development of a subsequent reactional state. Monocytes obtained from patients receiving the lymphokine demonstrated an increased respiratory burst and a 2.5-5.1-fold increase in tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) secretion in response to agonists. Patients in ENL had an even higher release of TNF-alpha from monocytes as well as high levels of TNF-alpha in the plasma (mean, 2,000 pg/ml). Thalidomide therapy was required to treat the systemic manifestations of ENL. Control of toxic symptoms with thalidomide was associated with a 50-80% reduction in agonist-stimulated monocyte TNF-alpha secretion. IFN-gamma enhanced the monocyte release of TNF-alpha by 3-7.5-fold (agonist dependent) when added to patient's cells in vitro, and this could be suppressed by the in vitro addition of 10 micrograms/ml of thalidomide.
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1 June 1992
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June 01 1992
Prolonged treatment with recombinant interferon gamma induces erythema nodosum leprosum in lepromatous leprosy patients.
E P Sampaio,
E P Sampaio
Laboratory of Cellular Physiology and Immunology, Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10021.
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A L Moreira,
A L Moreira
Laboratory of Cellular Physiology and Immunology, Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10021.
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E N Sarno,
E N Sarno
Laboratory of Cellular Physiology and Immunology, Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10021.
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A M Malta,
A M Malta
Laboratory of Cellular Physiology and Immunology, Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10021.
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G Kaplan
G Kaplan
Laboratory of Cellular Physiology and Immunology, Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10021.
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E P Sampaio
Laboratory of Cellular Physiology and Immunology, Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10021.
A L Moreira
Laboratory of Cellular Physiology and Immunology, Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10021.
E N Sarno
Laboratory of Cellular Physiology and Immunology, Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10021.
A M Malta
Laboratory of Cellular Physiology and Immunology, Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10021.
G Kaplan
Laboratory of Cellular Physiology and Immunology, Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10021.
Online ISSN: 1540-9538
Print ISSN: 0022-1007
J Exp Med (1992) 175 (6): 1729–1737.
Citation
E P Sampaio, A L Moreira, E N Sarno, A M Malta, G Kaplan; Prolonged treatment with recombinant interferon gamma induces erythema nodosum leprosum in lepromatous leprosy patients.. J Exp Med 1 June 1992; 175 (6): 1729–1737. doi: https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.175.6.1729
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