RELIEF OF INTRACTABLE PRURITUS IN POLYCYTHEMIA-VERA WITH RECOMBINANT INTERFERON-ALFA

Following reports that recombinant interferon alfa (rIFNalpha), besides inducing clinical and hematologic remission in polycythemia vera (PV), can also resolve intractable pruritus, we used rIFNalpha to treat 13 PV patients complaining of severe pruritus refractory to conventional treatment (venesection and/or cytostatics). rIFNalpha was administered intramuscularly three times a week at a dosage of 3.0 x 10(6) U. Eight patients (61.5%) reported a greater-than-or-equal-to 50%. reduction of pruritus, which occurred within 2-8 weeks from the start of rIFNalpha treatment, leading to a substantial improvement in their quality of life. Three patients had to stop rIFNalpha within the first month of therapy because of unacceptable side effects. Thus rIFNalpha seems to be capable of providing considerable relief of otherwise intractable pruritus in a good proportion of PV patients. (C) 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.