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Cited by 586Interstitial Lung Diseases and Idiopathic Pulmonary FibrosisChronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) ResearchSystemic Sclerosis and Related Diseases

A Preliminary Study of Long-Term Treatment with Interferon Gamma-1b and Low-Dose Prednisolone in Patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

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Ziesche, Rolf, Hofbauer, Elisabeth, Wittmann, Karin, Petkov, Ventzislav, Block, Lutz-Henning·1999·New England Journal of Medicine
DOI 10.1056/nejm199910213411703
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Abstract

BACKGROUND AND METHODS: Patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis have progressive scarring of the lung and usually die within four to five years after symptoms develop. Treatment with oral glucocorticoids is often ineffective. We conducted an open, randomized trial of treatment with a combination of interferon gamma-1b, which has antifibrotic properties, and an oral glucocorticoid. We studied 18 patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis who had not had responses to glucocorticoids or other immunosuppressive agents. Nine patients were treated for 12 months with oral prednisolone alone (7.5 mg daily, which could be increased to 25 to 50 mg daily), and nine with a combination of 200 microg of interferon gamma-1b (given three times per week subcutaneously) and 7.5 mg of prednisolone (given once a day). RESULTS: All the patients completed the study. Lung function deteriorated in all nine patients in the group given prednisolone alone: total lung capacity decreased from a mean (+/-SD) of 66+/-8 percent of the predicted value at base line to 62+/-6 percent at 12 months. In contrast, in the group receiving interferon gamma-1b plus prednisolone, total lung capacity increased (from 70+/-6 percent of the predicted value at base line to 79+/-12 percent at 12 months, P<0.001 for the difference between the groups). In the group that received interferon gamma-1b plus prednisolone, the partial pressure of arterial oxygen at rest increased from 65+/-9 mm Hg at base line to 76+/-8 mm Hg at 12 months, whereas in the group that received prednisolone alone it decreased from 65+/-6 to 62+/-4 mm Hg (P<0.001 for the difference in the change from baseline values between the two groups); on maximal exertion, the value increased from 55+/-6 to 65+/-8 mm Hg in the group that received combined treatment and decreased from 55+/-6 mm Hg to 52+/-5 mm Hg in the group given prednisolone alone (P<0.001). The side effects of interferon gamma-1b, such as fever, chills, and muscle pain, subsided within the first 9 to 12 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: In a preliminary study, 12 months of treatment with interferon gamma-1b plus prednisolone was associated with substantial improvements in the condition of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis who had had no response to glucocorticoids.

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  • A large multicenter randomized placebo-controlled study found interferon-lambda-1b ineffective in IPF.

    “But when interferon IFNλ-1b was tested in a large multicenter randomized placebo control study of IPF patients, it was not found to be effective [55].”

    From Emerging pharmacological options in the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) (2024) · cites this paper as [55]

    The Methods describe a preliminary study of 18 patients comparing interferon gamma-1b plus prednisolone with prednisolone alone—not a large placebo-controlled trial of interferon lambda-1b. The Conclusions and Results report substantial improvements with the combined treatment, contrary to the claim that it was ineffective. (LLM, conf=0.92)

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. [12]12. Harnoncourt K, Feldner H, Forche G, et al. Die Standardisierung der Lungenfunktionsdiagnostik. Osterreich Arzteztg 1982;37:1640-2.
  2. [15]15. Sempowski GD, Derdak S, Phipps RP. Interleukin-4 and interferon- gamma discordantly regulate collagen biosynthesis by functionally distinct lung fibroblast subsets. J Cell Physiol 1996;167:290-6.

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Authors
Ziesche, R., Hofbauer, E., Wittmann, K., Petkov, V., & Block, L.-H.
Affiliations
University of Vienna (AT)
ORCID
Petkov, Ventzislav
Venue
New England Journal of Medicine
Publisher
Massachusetts Medical Society
Published
1999-10-21
Volume
341
Issue
17
Pages
1264-1269
ISSN
  • 0028-4793 (ISSN-L)
  • 1533-4406
DOI
10.1056/nejm199910213411703
OpenAlex
W2315878550
Cited by
586
References
19
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 14 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 18 · 2012: 20
FWCI
35.06
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • New England Journal of Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine › Interstitial Lung Diseases and Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine › Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pathology and Forensic Medicine › Systemic Sclerosis and Related Diseases
Keywords
idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, interferon gamma-1b, prednisolone, combination therapy, antifibrotic therapy, lung function, total lung capacity, arterial oxygen partial pressure, glucocorticoids, immunosuppressive therapy, treatment side effects, long-term treatment outcomes, quality of life, pulmonary hypertension, dyspnea
MeSH terms
Carrier Proteins, Drug Therapy, Combination, Female, Glucocorticoids, Growth Substances, Humans, Interferon-gamma, Male, Middle Aged, Prednisolone, Pulmonary Fibrosis, Pulmonary Gas Exchange, Recombinant Proteins, Total Lung Capacity, Transcription, Genetic, Transforming Growth Factor beta, Immediate-Early Proteins, Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins, Connective Tissue Growth Factor

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