Human leukocyte interferon alpha: Structure, pharmacology, and therapeutic applications

Natural leukocyte interferon alfa for the treatment of chronic viral hepatitis in heart transplant recipients

“…cipients, interferon alfa was associated with a significant increase in steroid-resistant ACR episodes (13)(14)(15), when administered as a prophylactic agent for CMV infection, at extremely high doses (up to 36 MU three times per week), and immediately after the grafting procedure. High IFN doses at a time characterized by high class II MHC system antigen expression (also induced by interferon alfa) may be responsible for a greater risk of ACR episodes (12,24). In our study, ␣ -IFN doses were much lower (6 MU three times per week) and the treatment was started years after the transplantation.…”

“…The aim of this clinical pilot study was to evaluate the tolerability, safety, and efficacy of natural leukocyte interferon alfa (24) in the treatment of chronic HBV and HCV hepatitis occurring in HTx recipients.…”

Leukocyte Interferon Alpha Early Retreatment for Child A HCV Genotype 1b-Infected Cirrhotics Intolerant to Pegylated Interferons

“…Leukocyte IFN-alpha has in fact been used safely and efficaciously in heart transplant recipients, in dialyzed patients, and in the elderly [18][19][20][21]. In our experience, only one of 16 cirrhotic subjects (6.3%) who were retreated with leukocyte IFNalpha had to stop therapy again because of the reappearance of adverse events.…”

Neuropeptide Y Counteracts Interferon-Alpha-Induced Anorexia

“…Interferon-· (IFN-·) is a potent immunomodulatory cytokine with antiviral, antimicrobial and antiproliferative properties [1][2][3][4]. IFN-· is used in the treatment of solid tumors [4][5][6], leukemia [5], and chronic infections including hepatitis B [4,5,7], C [8][9][10][11] and subacute sclerosing panencephalitis [12][13][14][15][16].…”