Human leukocyte interferon treatment of two children with insulin dependent diabetes.

Two patients with newly diagnosed insulin dependent diabetes mellitus were treated with human leukocyte interferon based on the hypothesis that the diabetes was induced by an active viral infection in the pancreatic islets and could be arrested. High peak levels of serum interferon were achieved (100-200 U/ml) with minimal systemic side effects. There was no sustained therapeutic benefit as measured by increased production of endogenous insulin, or of C-peptide, or by a lower requirement for exogenous insulin. Further trials with interferon treatment should be undertaken only if evidence of active viral infection (culture, antigen detection) can be associated with insulin dependent diabetes onset and these markers followed during treatment.