Lymphomatoide Granulomatose - Remissionsinduktion mit Interferon-α(2b)

History and admission findings: A 72-year-old woman was admitted to hospital because of nonproductive cough, acrodistal sensorimotor axonal polyneuropathy, fatigue and 10 kg weight loss over the preceding 9 months. Investigations: Chest radiogram showed multiple round foci in both lungs. No organs other than the lungs and the peripheral nervous system were affected. Open lung biopsy revealed a pleomorphic angioinvasive lymphocytic infiltrations. Diagnosis, treatment and course: The findings indicated lymphomatoid granulomatosis (LG). Wegener granulomatosis was excluded on the basis of the clinical, serological and histopathological findings. Treatment with α-interferon (IFN-α) produced complete remission within 4 months. Interruption of treatment immediately resulted in a recurrence. Conclusion: Together with previously reported cases this patient's response to IFN-α suggests that IFN-α is a less toxic alternative to cyclophosphamide and corticosteroid administration in the early stages of LG.