alpha-Interferon treatment

From: 'Alpha-Interferon treatment of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.' <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8675231">https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8675231</a>

After 12 weeks of interferon therapy, QOL score significantly improved in each of the seven patients with isolated NK cell dysfunction (mean score, 16.3 +/- 7.9) compared to baseline (39.7 +/- 12.1; p < .05). In these patients the mean NK function increased from 35.1 +/- 11.7 to 91.5 +/- 22.7 LU (p < .01). Significant improvement was not recorded for QOL in the other three groups. Thus, therapy with alpha interferon has a significant effect on the QOL of that subgroup of patients with CFS manifesting an isolated decrease in NK function.

From: 'Interferon' <a href="http://phoenixrising.me/treating-cfs-chronic-fatigue-syndrome-me/immune/antivirals-and-immunemodulators/treating-chronic-fatigue-syndrome-mecfs-interferon">http://phoenixrising.me/treating-cfs-chronic-fatigue-syndrome-me/immune/antivirals-and-immunemodulators/treating-chronic-fatigue-syndrome-mecfs-interferon</a>

Alpha 2a interferon significantly increased quality of life scores and natural killer cell functioning in ME/CFS patients with reduced NK cell functioning (but not other patients) in a 1994 study. Dr. Chia reported another small early interferon study by Brook et. al. was successful as well. Since neither study examined pathogens levels the patients under study may have had active infections.

Dr Chia reported the following results using three kinds of interferon therapy.

Interferon alpha/Ribivarin; Interferon alpha in combination with Ribavarin greatly reduced antibody levels to enteroviruses and improved fatigue levels and flu-like symptoms in 7 highly symptomatic patients but 4 of the 7 patients relapsed and their enteroviral levels rose four to five months after the treatment ended.

Interferon alpha/delta – Eight of 14 severely ill ME/CFS patients with enteroviral RNA in their blood returned to work on a half or full time basis after interferon alpha/delta therapy but most relapsed several months later. Heavy exertion was a common relapse trigger. Some patients responded well to another course of interferon.

Interferon alpha/gamma – One patient receiving interferon alpha/gamma three times a week returned to full-time work two months later and was well for 14 months when she relapsed. Another patient had a similar response. Dr. Chia reported that eight of 14 severely ill ME/CFS patients with enteroviral RNA in their blood returned to work on a half or full time basis but most relapsed several months later.