Acute respiratory failure after interferon-gamma therapy of end-stage pulmonary fibrosis.

Abstract

Interferon (IFN)-gamma was recently proposed as a treatment for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. We report on four patients who developed acute respiratory failure with new alveolar opacities after 2 (two patients), 6, and 35 injections of IFN-gamma-1b. All four patients had advanced idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (total lung capacity less than 45% predicted or carbon monoxide diffusion capacity less than 30% predicted), and two patients had familial pulmonary fibrosis. No other cause of deterioration was found. Refractory hypoxemia led to death in three cases and to lung transplantation in one case. Pathologic studies in two patients showed diffuse alveolar damage lesions with preexisting usual interstitial pneumonia. These cases suggest that IFN-gamma therapy can induce an acute respiratory failure in patients with end-stage idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

• Authors: Isabelle Honoré, Hilario Nunes, Odile Groussard, Marianne Kambouchner, Arnaud Chambellan, Michel Aubier, Dominique Valeyre, Bruno Crestani
• Journal: American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine (Am J Respir Crit Care Med) Vol. 167 Issue 7 Pg. 953-7 (Apr 01 2003) ISSN: 1073-449X [Print] United States
• PMID: 12663336 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Glucocorticoids
• Interferon-gamma

Topics

• Acute Disease
• Adult
• Aged
• Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Glucocorticoids (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Humans
• Interferon-gamma (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Pulmonary Fibrosis (complications, drug therapy)
• Respiratory Insufficiency (chemically induced)
• Treatment Failure