Prophylactic use of interferon in renal allograft recipients

The administration of human fibroblast interferon in a dosage of 3 x 10⁶ U, given twice weekly i.m. for 3 mth, did not prevent viral infections in renal allograft recipients. This may not be due to the lack of antiviral potential of interferon itself, but to the authors' incomplete knowledge of how to use it in man. It remains to be established whether interferon can show its antiviral activity in immunosuppressed organ transplant recipients. In these patients, viral infections can be predicted to occur. As interferon shows its most pronounced effect when given prophylactically, the future of interferon as an antiviral agent in man seems to be in preventing viral infections.