Lack of suppression of IgE production by recombinant interferon gamma: a controlled trial in patients with allergic rhinitis

Abstract

Recent evidence suggests that interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) is a potent inhibitor of IgE synthesis in rodents. We conducted a randomized, placebo-controlled, two-period clinical trial of human recombinant IFN-gamma in the treatment of allergic rhinitis. Forty-five adults with well-documented ragweed-allergic rhinitis were randomized into three groups of 15 adults each and received subcutaneous injections three times weekly. The first treatment period (4 weeks during the off season) began on April 18, 1988; the second treatment period (6 weeks during ragweed pollination) began on August 15, 1988. All subjects received the same treatment in both periods. Group 1 received 0.2 mg per injection of IFN, group 2 received 0.02 mg of IFN, and group 3 received placebo. One subject in group 1 and three subjects in group 2 withdrew because of adverse reactions, and three subjects withdrew for personal reasons. There were no significant differences in mean weekly symptom scores or supplemental medication scores among the three groups in either treatment period. Furthermore, there were no significant differences in the changes of serum IgE antibody to crude ragweed extract or in serum total IgE among the three groups during or before the ragweed-pollination season. These results indicate that this treatment regimen with IFN-gamma does not alter IgE production in patients with ragweed hay fever and indicate the need for further clinical research of lymphokine modulation of IgE production.