중등증 이상의 소아 아토피피부염에서 재조합 IFN-γ의 장기적 효과에 대한 연구

초록

Purpose:A number of studies on the treatment of atopic dermatitis have focused on the therapeutic effects of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) in patients with severe atopic dermatitis, although therapeutic protocols such as duration and dosage of recombinant IFN-γ were different among studies. The beneficial effects of IFN-γ have probably been attributed mainly to its immune modulating effect on the expression of several immunologic mediators although the mechanism of action of IFN-γ therapy in atopic dermatitis is not clear. Objective:The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the therapeutic effect of recombinant IFN-γ on moderate to severe atopic dermatitis with changes in immunologic markers such as IgE level and eosionophil cationic protein (ECP). Methods:Thirty children with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis were selected for the treatment with recombinant IFN-γ, and 10 children with atopic dermatitis were recruited for the controls without IFN-γ treatment. They were followed up every 4 weeks for 3 months after IFN-γ treatment. We evaluated the SCORAD index and immunologic markers including serum IgE and ECP and total eosinophil and neutrophil counts. Results:Significant clinical improvement in reduced SCORAD index was observed 12 weeks after treatment with regimen of recombinant IFN-γ. This clinical outcome was correlated more with changes in eosinophil counts and ECP levels than with those in serum IgE levels. Conclusions:The efficacy of recombinant human IFN-γ therapy for children with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis was maintained without serious side effects for 6 months after final injection of recombinant IFN-γ. Recombinant IFN-γ therapy corrected cellular immune deficits, but not humoral immune defects in patients with atopic dermatitis.

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