Editing Interferon (section)

===Diseases===

[[Interferon beta-1a]] and [[interferon beta-1b]] are used to treat and control [[multiple sclerosis]], an [[autoimmune disorder]].  This treatment may help in reducing attacks in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Rice GP, Incorvaia B, Munari L, Ebers G, Polman C, D'Amico R, Filippini G | title = Interferon in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis | journal = The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews | volume = 2001 | issue = 4 | pages = CD002002 | date = 2001 | pmid = 11687131 | pmc = 7017973 | doi = 10.1002/14651858.CD002002 }}</ref> and  slowing disease progression and activity in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis.<ref name="pmid19707422">{{cite journal | vauthors = Paolicelli D, Direnzo V, Trojano M | title = Review of interferon beta-1b in the treatment of early and relapsing multiple sclerosis | journal = Biologics | volume = 3 | pages = 369–376 | date = 14 September 2009 | pmid = 19707422 | pmc = 2726074 }}</ref>

Interferon therapy is used (in combination with chemotherapy and radiation) as a treatment for some cancers.<ref name="pmid2458171">{{cite journal | vauthors = Goldstein D, Laszlo J | title = The role of interferon in cancer therapy: a current perspective | journal = CA | volume = 38 | issue = 5 | pages = 258–277 | date = Sep 1988 | pmid = 2458171 | doi = 10.3322/canjclin.38.5.258 | s2cid = 9160289 | doi-access =  }}</ref> This treatment can be used in [[hematological malignancy]], such as in leukemia and lymphomas including [[hairy cell leukemia]], [[chronic myeloid leukemia]], nodular lymphoma, and [[cutaneous T-cell lymphoma]].<ref name="pmid2458171"/>  Patients with recurrent [[melanoma]]s receive recombinant IFN-α2b.<ref name="pmid18236459">{{cite journal | vauthors = Hauschild A, Gogas H, Tarhini A, Middleton MR, Testori A, Dréno B, Kirkwood JM | title = Practical guidelines for the management of interferon-alpha-2b side effects in patients receiving adjuvant treatment for melanoma: expert opinion | journal = Cancer | volume = 112 | issue = 5 | pages = 982–994 | date = March 2008 | pmid = 18236459 | doi = 10.1002/cncr.23251 | doi-access = free }}</ref>

Both [[hepatitis B]] and [[hepatitis C]] can be treated with IFN-α, often in combination with other antiviral drugs.<ref name="pmid15208528">{{cite journal | vauthors = Cooksley WG | title = The role of interferon therapy in hepatitis B | journal = MedGenMed | volume = 6 | issue = 1 | pages = 16 | date = March 2004 | pmid = 15208528 | pmc = 1140699 }}</ref><ref name="pmid11134916">{{cite journal | vauthors = Shepherd J, Waugh N, Hewitson P | title = Combination therapy (interferon alfa and ribavirin) in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C: a rapid and systematic review | journal = Health Technology Assessment | volume = 4 | issue = 33 | pages = 1–67 | year = 2000 | pmid = 11134916 | doi = 10.3310/hta4330 | doi-access = free }}</ref>  Some of those treated with interferon have a sustained virological response and can eliminate hepatitis virus in the case of hepatitis C. The most common strain of hepatitis C virus (HCV) worldwide—genotype I—<ref>{{cite web |url=http://hepctrust.org.uk/information/about-hepatitis-c-virus/genotypes-hepatitis-c|title=Genotypes of hepatitis C|website=Hepatitis C Trust|year=2023|access-date=8 February 2023}}</ref> can be treated with interferon-α, ribavirin and protease inhibitors such as [[telaprevir]],<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Cunningham M, Foster GR | title = Efficacy and safety of telaprevir in patients with genotype 1 hepatitis C infection | journal = Therapeutic Advances in Gastroenterology | volume = 5 | issue = 2 | pages = 139–151 | date = March 2012 | pmid = 22423262 | pmc = 3296085 | doi = 10.1177/1756283X11426895 | doi-access = free }}</ref> [[boceprevir]]<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Poordad F, McCone J, Bacon BR, Bruno S, Manns MP, Sulkowski MS, Jacobson IM, Reddy KR, Goodman ZD, Boparai N, DiNubile MJ, Sniukiene V, Brass CA, Albrecht JK, Bronowicki JP | title = Boceprevir for untreated chronic HCV genotype 1 infection | journal = The New England Journal of Medicine | volume = 364 | issue = 13 | pages = 1195–1206 | date = March 2011 | pmid = 21449783 | pmc = 3766849 | doi = 10.1056/NEJMoa1010494 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Bacon BR, Gordon SC, Lawitz E, Marcellin P, Vierling JM, Zeuzem S, Poordad F, Goodman ZD, Sings HL, Boparai N, Burroughs M, Brass CA, Albrecht JK, Esteban R | title = Boceprevir for previously treated chronic HCV genotype 1 infection | journal = The New England Journal of Medicine | volume = 364 | issue = 13 | pages = 1207–1217 | date = March 2011 | pmid = 21449784 | pmc = 3153125 | doi = 10.1056/NEJMoa1009482 }}</ref> or the nucleotide analog polymerase inhibitor [[sofosbuvir]].<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Lawitz E, Mangia A, Wyles D, Rodriguez-Torres M, Hassanein T, Gordon SC, Schultz M, Davis MN, Kayali Z, Reddy KR, Jacobson IM, Kowdley KV, Nyberg L, Subramanian GM, Hyland RH, Arterburn S, Jiang D, McNally J, Brainard D, Symonds WT, McHutchison JG, Sheikh AM, Younossi Z, Gane EJ | title = Sofosbuvir for previously untreated chronic hepatitis C infection | journal = The New England Journal of Medicine | volume = 368 | issue = 20 | pages = 1878–1887 | date = May 2013 | pmid = 23607594 | doi = 10.1056/NEJMoa1214853 | doi-access = free }}</ref>  [[Biopsies]] of patients given the treatment show reductions in liver damage and [[cirrhosis]].  Control of chronic hepatitis C by IFN is associated with reduced [[hepatocellular carcinoma]].<ref name="pmid18985803">{{cite journal | vauthors = Ishikawa T | title = Secondary prevention of recurrence by interferon therapy after ablation therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma in chronic hepatitis C patients | journal = World Journal of Gastroenterology | volume = 14 | issue = 40 | pages = 6140–6144 | date = October 2008 | pmid = 18985803 | pmc = 2761574 | doi = 10.3748/wjg.14.6140 | doi-access = free }}</ref>  A [[single nucleotide polymorphism]] (SNP) in the gene encoding the type III interferon IFN-λ3 was found to be protective against chronic infection following proven HCV infection<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Thomas DL, Thio CL, Martin MP, Qi Y, Ge D, O'Huigin C, Kidd J, Kidd K, Khakoo SI, Alexander G, Goedert JJ, Kirk GD, Donfield SM, Rosen HR, Tobler LH, Busch MP, McHutchison JG, Goldstein DB, Carrington M | title = Genetic variation in IL28B and spontaneous clearance of hepatitis C virus | journal = Nature | volume = 461 | issue = 7265 | pages = 798–801 | date = October 2009 | pmid = 19759533 | pmc = 3172006 | doi = 10.1038/nature08463 | bibcode = 2009Natur.461..798T }}</ref> and predicted treatment response to interferon-based regimens.  The frequency of the SNP differed significantly by race, partly explaining observed differences in response to interferon therapy between European-Americans and African-Americans.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Ge D, Fellay J, Thompson AJ, Simon JS, Shianna KV, Urban TJ, Heinzen EL, Qiu P, Bertelsen AH, Muir AJ, Sulkowski M, McHutchison JG, Goldstein DB | title = Genetic variation in IL28B predicts hepatitis C treatment-induced viral clearance | journal = Nature | volume = 461 | issue = 7262 | pages = 399–401 | date = September 2009 | pmid = 19684573 | doi = 10.1038/nature08309 | s2cid = 1707096 | bibcode = 2009Natur.461..399G }}</ref>

Unconfirmed results suggested that interferon eye drops may be an effective treatment for people who have [[herpes of the eye|herpes simplex virus epithelial keratitis]], a type of eye infection.<ref name=Wilhelmus2015>{{cite journal | vauthors = Wilhelmus KR | title = Antiviral treatment and other therapeutic interventions for herpes simplex virus epithelial keratitis | journal = The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews | volume = 1 | issue = 1 | pages = CD002898 | date = January 2015 | pmid = 25879115 | pmc = 4443501 | doi = 10.1002/14651858.CD002898.pub5 }}</ref> There is no clear evidence to suggest that removing the infected tissue ([[debridement]]) followed by interferon drops is an effective treatment approach for these types of eye infections.<ref name=Wilhelmus2015 /> Unconfirmed results suggested that the combination of interferon and an antiviral agent may speed the healing process compared to antiviral therapy alone.<ref name=Wilhelmus2015 />

When used in systemic therapy, IFNs are mostly administered by an intramuscular injection. The injection of IFNs in the muscle or under the skin is generally well tolerated. The most frequent [[adverse effects]] are flu-like symptoms: increased body temperature, feeling ill, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, convulsion, dizziness, hair thinning, and depression. [[Erythema]], pain, and hardness at the site of injection are also frequently observed. IFN therapy causes [[immunosuppression]], in particular through [[neutropenia]] and can result in some infections manifesting in unusual ways.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Bhatti Z, Berenson CS | title = Adult systemic cat scratch disease associated with therapy for hepatitis C | journal = BMC Infectious Diseases | volume = 7 | pages = 8 | date = February 2007 | pmid = 17319959 | pmc = 1810538 | doi = 10.1186/1471-2334-7-8 | doi-access = free }}</ref>