Cutaneous Reactions to Recombinant Cytokine Therapy

The document from 1995 reviews the skin reactions caused by recombinant cytokine therapy, which includes proteins produced through recombinant DNA technology used to treat various medical conditions. It highlights that while cytokines are beneficial in treating diseases like cancers and immunodeficiencies, they can also cause a range of skin toxicities. These reactions can be minor, such as injection site reactions and pruritus, or severe, like autoimmune disorders and bullous skin reactions. The review details the cutaneous side effects of specific cytokines, including interferons, which are used for conditions like atopic dermatitis and malignant melanoma, and colony-stimulating factors, which can lead to Sweet's syndrome and exacerbation of inflammatory disorders. The document also notes that interferon therapies can cause alopecia in about 10% of patients and injection site reactions in about 65% of 226 patients. It emphasizes the importance of clinicians being aware of these potential toxicities when using cytokine therapies.