Interferon gamma may improve cardiac function in Friedreich's ataxia cardiomyopathy

Vegard Bruun Wyller, Kristine Jacobsen, Mai Britt Dahl, Hilde Nilsen, Simone Proske, Thorsten Horter, Henrik Brun, International Journal of Cardiology, Available online 29 June 2016, ISSN 0167-5273, Doi:10.1016/j.ijcard.2016.06.288

Here, we report the effect of INFγ therapy in a single patient suffering from severe FRDA cardiomyopathy. In conclusion, INFγ treatment seemed to attenuate cardiomyocyte damage and improve diastolic function in our patient. No serious side effects were registered. Thus, INFγ treatment might be a promising therapy option for FRDA hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Results from a case report must be interpreted with great caution; ideally, a randomised controlled trial should be undertaken in order to assess the effects and safety of INFγ treatment in FRDA cardiomyopathy.