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© 1992 British Society for Rheumatology

other

ALPHA INTERFERON-2a (ROFERON-A) IN THE TREATMENT OF DIFFUSE CUTANEOUS SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS: A PILOT STUDY

W. STEVENS, R. VANCHEESWARAN, C. M. BLACK and SYSTEMIC THE UK SCLEROSIS STUDY GROUP*

Department of Rheumatology, Royal Free Hospital Pond Street, London NW3 2QG

Correspondence to: Correspondence to C. M. Black, Royal Free Hospital. Pond Street, London NW3 2QG

Intramuscular {alpha}-interferon improved or stabilized skin score in 10/14 (71%) patients with diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis. In 64% of patients, their treating physicians rated it as having stabilized or improved the disease. However, it had no significant effect on grip strength, digital contractures, respiratory function or visceral involvement. Type I collagen synthesis was significantly reduced in fibroblasts cultured from clinically ‘uninvolved’ skin but not in those from lesional skin. Amino-terminal procollagen III peptides in the interferon treated group were not significantly reduced after 6 months of therapy but showed a trend towards stabilization and reduction compared to disease matched controls on no therapy.

KEY WORDS: Scleroderma, Interferon, Collagen, Procollagen peptides, Fibroblast, Autoimmune, Firbosis

*The Members of the UK Systemic Sclerosis Study Group are: P. Bacon, Rheumatism Research Wing, University of Birmingham; R. Bernstein, Rheumatic Research Centre, Royal Infirmary, University of Manchester; M. I . V. Jayson, Rheumatic Diseases Centre, Hope Hospital, Salford; P. Maddison, Bone and Joint Department, Royal National Hospital, Bath; A. Silman, ARC Epidemiology Research Unit, University of Manchester.


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