Treatment of patients with chronic granulomatous disease with recombinant human interferon-gamma does not improve neutrophil oxidative metabolism, cytochrome b558 content or levels of four anti-microbial proteins.

Recombinant interferon-gamma (rIFN-gamma) has been described to enhance phagocyte functions in vitro and in vivo in several patients with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD). To demonstrate the clinical usefulness of this treatment, 128 patients were treated in a randomized, double-blind multi-centre study with a placebo preparation or with rIFN-gamma. We analysed parameters of neutrophil oxidative and non-oxidative metabolism in 16 patients enrolled in this study.