Interferon-α therapy associated with the development of sarcoidosis

Abstract

Interferons (IFNs) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of sarcoidosis. In particular, IFN-γ has been linked to pulmonary macrophage activation, a characteristic feature of sarcoidosis. IFN-α is now being administered therapeutically in a variety of conditions. To date, IFN-α has not been implicated in the pathogenesis of sarcoidosis. We report the ease of a 50-year-old woman who developed sarcoidosis while being treated with IFN- α for chronic myelogenous leukemia. Her disease activity correlated with the dosage of IFN-α. We speculate that the immunomodulatory effects of IFN-α triggered clinical manifestations of sarcoidosis in this patient.