Interferon alfa-2b
Interferon alfa 2b is an antiviral or antineoplastic drug, with a wide range of indications, including viral infections and cancers.
Pregnancy category US: C (Risk not ruled out)
Routes of administration are subcutaneous, and intramuscular.
Approved for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C, chronic hepatitis B, hairy cell leukemia, Behçet’s disease, chronic myelogenous leukemia, multiple myeloma, follicular lymphoma, carcinoid tumor, mastocytosis and malignant melanoma.
Intron-A tradename
Adverse effects include fever, chills, arthralgias, fatigue, anorexia and weight loss, hair thinning, depression, neurological toxicity, impaired concentration, sleep disturbance, stomatitis, and cardiotoxicity.
Chronic use can cause autoimmune disorders such associated thyroiditis, polyarthropathies, diabetes, anemia, thrombocytopenia and hepatitis.
Can increase major complex expression, immunoglobulin and inflammatory cytokine release.
Inhibits activated T cell apoptosis.
Thyroid function abnormalities during treatment reported in 2-10% of patients.
Liver function abnormalities reported in up to 30-70% of patients on treatment.
Interferons induce sustained reduction in mutant JAK2 alleles and induce high rates of clinical, hematological and ,molecular responses in polycythemia vera.