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- Title
Eosinophilic pustular folliculitis effectively treated with recombinant interferon-γ: suppression of mRNA expression of interleukin 5 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells.
- Authors
Fushimi, M.; Tokura, Y.; Sachi, Y.; Hashizume, H.; Sudo, H.; Wakita, H.; Furukawa, F.; Takegawa, M.
- Abstract
Eosinophilic pustular folliculitis (EPF) is characterized clinically by pruritic grouped follicular papules and pustules on the trunk, limbs, and face, and histologically, by follicular infiltration with eosinophils. The blood eosinophil count is elevated in most patients. Oral minocycline, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, diaminodiphenylsulphone, and corticosteroids may induce remission. We report two Japanese men with EPF who responded poorly to the usual therapy. Intravenous injections of recombinant interferon-γ (rIFN-γ), 5 × 105 to 2 × 106 Japan Reference Unit (JRU) (1 JRU roughly corresponds to 4 NIH units) daily for 7 days, cleared the skin lesions and returned the peripheral eosinophil counts to normal in both patients. However, the lesions recurred 2-3 days after rIFN-γ was stopped. Both patients have received intravenous rIFN-γ once or twice a week for nearly 1 year without systemic side-effects. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction revealed a decreased expression of interleukin 5 (IL-5) mRNA in peripheral mononuclear cells after the rIFN-γ therapy. rIFN-γ may become the treatment of choice in recalcitrant EPF, although further studies are needed. It may work by interfering with the immunological function of type 2 T-helper cells, including IL-5 production responsible for the growth and differentiation of eosinophils.
- Subjects
SKIN diseases; ANTIVIRAL agents; BLOOD circulation; MESSENGER RNA; INTERFERONS; INTRAVENOUS therapy
- Publication
British Journal of Dermatology, 1996, Vol 134, Issue 4, p766
- ISSN
0007-0963
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/j.1365-2133.1996.tb06988.x