[Interferon alfa in the treatment of monoclonal gammopathies].

Maintenance treatment with interferon alpha protracts the remission of multiple myeloma and this treatment can therefore be recommended. For combined treatment of newly diagnosed multiple myeloma so far the optimal dose and time schedule is not yet known and therefore combined treatment cannot yet be recommended for standard therapy. Similarly, also in primarily resistant or relapsing disease the indication of interferon alpha is not yet final and interferon alpha is used in this indication only in clinical trials and in common treatment only as the last resort. Interferon alpha holds its place in Waldenström's macroglobulinaemia. Because of the price of interferon alpha it is better to use a cytostatics and prednisone as drugs of first choice and administer interferon alpha to patients who do not respond to cytostatic treatment. Primary cryoglobulinaemia and primary affection of cold haemagglutinin disease are conditions which respond poorly to cytostatics and prednisone. Interferon alpha proved in these instances successful when used in induction doses of 3 x 10(6) INF-alpha i.u./day.