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Interferon-α as a Treatment Modality for Colchicine- Resistant Familial Mediterranean Fever NURIT TWEEZER-ZAKS, EINAT RABINOVICH, MERAV LIDAR, and AVI LIVNEH
ABSTRACT. Methods. In a prospective, patient self-controlled, open-label study evaluating the safety and efficacy of IFN-α in patients with FMF with a severe phenotype, refractory to intensified (oral plus intravenous) colchicine therapy, we advised patients to subcutaneously inject IFN-α, 3 million international units, at the onset of the FMF attack. Attacks not treated with IFN-α of the same patients and in the same sites served as control attacks. Features of each attack were recorded in a questionnaire, eventually used to compare between IFN-α-treated and non-treated attacks. Results. Ten patients with a total of 80 attacks were recruited. Compared to 22 untreated attacks, a > 20% and > 50% reduction in the duration of the attacks was noted in 100% and 90% of the 58 IFN-α-treated attacks, respectively (p < 0.001 for both). The severity (degree of pain) of the IFN-α-treated attacks was attenuated by > 20% and > 50% in 88% and 49% of these attacks, respectively (p < 0.001 for both). The most common drug-related adverse events were chills and fatigue. Conclusion. Early intervention with IFN-α injections was associated with reduced attack length and/or severity in a substantial number of bouts, with an acceptable cost of adverse events. (First Release June 1 2008; J Rheumatol 2008;35:1362-5) Key Indexing Terms:
FAMILIAL MEDITERRANEAN FEVER From the Heller Institute of Medical Research, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, affiliated with Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel. N. Tweezer-Zaks, MD; E. Rabinovich, MD; M. Lidar, MD; A. Livneh, MD, Professor of Medicine, Heller Institute of Medical Research. Address reprint requests to Dr. A. Livneh, Heller Institute of Medical Research, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, 52621, Israel. E-mail: alivneh@post.tau.ac.il Accepted for publication February 12, 2008. |
