Abstract
Objective
Previous reports on interferon-α (IFN-α) were conflicting with respect to its efficacy in familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) refractory to colchicine treatment. We investigated the effect of IFN-α in patients with colchicine-resistant FMF.
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.
Key Indexing Terms:Footnotes
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N. Tweezer-Zaks, MD; E. Rabinovich, MD; M. Lidar, MD; A. Livneh, MD, Professor of Medicine, Heller Institute of Medical Research.
- Received February 12, 2008.