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Response to interferon alfa-2b in a patient with systemic mastocytosis

Article Abstract:

Interferon alfa-2b may be an effective treatment for patients with malignant systemic mastocytosis. Patients with mastocytosis produce an excess of mast cells that infiltrate the skin, bone, spleen, liver and lymph nodes. Release of histamines from the mast cells causes attacks with flushing, itching, headache, gastrointestinal symptoms and fainting. A 42-year-old man suffering from malignant systemic mastocytosis was injected with five million units of interferon alfa-2b every day, and was followed over a 12-month period. By the seventh month, histamine attacks had decreased from daily to biweekly, and had gone from very severe to mild. By the 11th month, the patient had only a few mild attacks. The proportion of mast cells in the patient's bone marrow decreased from 40% to 25% at two months, to five percent at seven months and remained at six percent after 12 months. The concentration of histamine metabolites in the urine had decreased 94% by the 10th month of treatment.

Mast cell disease, Mastocytosis

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Sum of the parts

Article Abstract:

A case study of a 36-year-old Pakistani woman with a 10-day history of a nonproductive cough, dyspnea, and fever, whose symptoms persisted even after prescription for moxifloxacin for presumed bronchitis, is presented. Since the patient had a relapse after initial immunosuppressive therapy, a decision was made to treat the underlying hepatitis C with interferon alfa and ribavirin therapy.

Hepatitis C, Shortness of breath, Dyspnea, Clinical report

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