INTERFERON

Course overview

INTERFERONS ARE CURRENTLY USED CLINICALLY TO TREAT VIRAL INFECTIONS SUCH AS HEPATITIS C, CANCERS INCLUDING NON-HODGKIN’S LYMPHOMA, AND AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES SUCH AS MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS. THIS ACTIVITY OUTLINES THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF INTERFERONS, NAMELY INTERFERON ALPHA, BETA, AND GAMMA. IT DISCUSSES THE PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF DIFFERENT INTERFERONS, THEIR MEDICAL USES, METHODS OF ADMINISTRATION, POTENTIAL ADVERSE EFFECTS, AND OTHER PROPERTIES. IT ALSO HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANT ROLE THAT PROVIDERS PLAY IN TERMS OF CORRECTLY ADMINISTERING AND DOSING INTERFERON MEDICATION, REGULARLY MONITORING PATIENTS FOR ADVERSE EFFECTS, AND COUNSELING PATIENTS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF MEDICATION ADHERENCE.