INTERFERON ALFA-2A

The Uses of INTERFERON ALFA-2A

Antineoplastic; biological response modifier.

brand name

Roferon-A (Hoffmann-LaRoche).

Clinical Use

Interferon alfa-2a is used in the treatment of hairy cellleukemia and AIDS-related Kaposi sarcoma in selected patientsolder than 18 years of age. It is also used to treatchronic hepatitis C, and in patients with this disease, interferonalfa-2a can normalize serum alanine aminotransferase(ALT) levels, improve liver histology, and decrease viralload. The drug has a direct antiproliferative activity againsttumor cells. Modulation of the host immune response probablyplays a role in the antitumor activity of interferon alfa-2a.The interferon is supplied as a solution or as a powder forsolution.

Drug interactions

Potentially hazardous interactions with other drugs
Aminophylline and theophylline: metabolism of aminophylline and theophylline reduced, consider reducing dose of aminophylline and theophylline.
Antivirals: increased risk of peripheral neuropathy with telbivudine.
Immunosuppressants, e.g. ciclosporin, tacrolimus, sirolimus may have an antagonistic effect

Metabolism

Alpha-interferons are totally filtered through the glomeruli and undergo rapid proteolytic degradation during tubular reabsorption, rendering a negligible reappearance of intact alfa interferon in the systemic circulation.