抄録
Human interferon β (IFN-β) has been used for the treatment of patients with benign and malignant astrocytomas. The effect of IFN-β on pituitary function, however, has not been precisely evaluated before. In this study the serum levels of various anterior pituitary hormones including GH, PRL, ACTH, and TSH were measured to determine the effects of IFN-β on pituitary endocrine function in 19 consecutive glioma patients receiving IFN-β. Daily doses of 3×106U of IFN-β were administered as a 30-min intravenous drip infusion beginning at 0800h every morning during the first week and then 4 times a week for additional 6 weeks. Blood samples were taken on the day prior to administration as controls (0900h and 1500h), and on the first day of administration (0900h and 1500h) and after 7 days of administration (0900h) in order to determine the acute and chronic or integrated effects of IFN-β on the above pituitary hormones. No significant change in serum concentrations of any of the pituitary hormones examined was observed, suggesting that human natural IFN-β used for the treatment of gliomas has no significant effect on the secretion of these hormones from the pituitary in these patients.
