Interferon Alfa Therapy in an Infant with Juvenile Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia

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Abstract
We describe an infant with juvenile chronic myelogenous leukemia (JCML), the diagnosis of which was made by the characteristic clinical and hematologic findings. The absence of a related HLA—compatible donor for bone marrow transplantation coupled with the awareness that chemotherapy is usually ineffective prompted our decision to treat the patient with lymphoblastoid interferon-α [α(Ly)-IFN]. During the 26-month course of treatment with α(Ly)-IFN an incomplete regression of hematologic and clinical findings was achieved. The above results, along with the easy administration and absence of considerable side effects, suggest that α(Ly)-IFN may be a useful therapeutic tool in patients affected by JCML awaiting bone marrow transplantation.