Interferon gamma adverse effects

Interferon gamma is an activator of macrophages. Its anti-viral activity is limited compared to that of interferon alfa. Human recombinant interferon gamma restores, at least in part, macrophage cytotoxicity and with that decreases the incidence of infections in patients with chronic granulomatous diseases. Its adverse effects consist mainly of flu-like syndrome skin rashes may occur. 

INTERFERON GAMMA VACCINES Immunosuppressants diminish the effectiveness of vaccines. There is t risk of adverse/toxic effects of live vaccines, and vaccinal infections may develop Disseminated infection due to enhanced replication of vaccine virus in the presence of diminished immunocompetence Do not vaccinate when patients are on immunosuppressants. Vaccination should be deferred for at least 3 months after discontinuing suppressants/myelosuppres-sants. If an individual has been recently vaccinated, do not initiate therapy for at least 2 weeks after vaccination... 

Heart rate, ventricular or supraventricular extra beats, and asymptomatic cardiac events were not significantly different during treatment compared with baseline in 20 patients receiving interferon gamma (6). Interferon gamma rarely produced cardiovascular adverse effects. Hypotension, dysrhythmias, and possible coronary spasm were sometimes observed, mostly in patients receiving high doses or with previous cardiovascular disorders (SEDA-20, 333) (SEDA-22, 405) (7,8). 

Ryffel B (1997). Interleukin-12 Role of interferon-gamma in IL-12 adverse effects. Clinical Immunology and Immunopathology, 83 18-20. 

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