Westin, J, Rödjer, S, Turesson, I et al. · British journal of haematology · 1995 · DOI
This study tested whether a drug called interferon alfa-2b could help multiple myeloma patients (a type of blood cancer) stay in remission longer after their initial treatment. Patients who received interferon stayed in remission for about 14 months compared to 6 months for those who didn't, but both groups lived about the same length of time overall.
This study is relevant to ME/CFS research because it documents 'chronic fatigue syndrome' as a medication side effect in 18% of treated patients, providing evidence that certain pharmacological interventions can induce fatigue-like toxicity. Understanding drug-induced fatigue mechanisms may inform understanding of post-treatment or exertional malaise in ME/CFS populations and highlight the need for improved toxicity monitoring in clinical trials.
This study does not establish that interferon-induced fatigue shares pathophysiology with ME/CFS, nor does it explain mechanisms of fatigue development. The fatigue described is a documented adverse effect in cancer treatment, not a study of ME/CFS etiology or pathogenesis. Survival benefit absence does not prove prolonged plateau phase lacks clinical value in all patient contexts.
About the PEM badge: “PEM required” means post-exertional malaise was an explicit required diagnostic criterion for participant inclusion in this study — not that PEM was studied, observed, or discussed. Studies using criteria that do not require PEM (e.g. Fukuda, Oxford) are tagged “PEM not required”. How the atlas works →
The first block is for the primary paper and is the citation you should use in research work. The atlas-snapshot line only applies if you are specifically referring to this atlas’s reading of the paper on the date shown.
Primary citation
Westin, J, Rödjer, S, Turesson, I, Cortelezzi, A, Hjorth, M, & Zador, G (1995). Interferon alfa-2b versus no maintenance therapy during the plateau phase in multiple myeloma: a randomized study. Cooperative Study Group.. British journal of haematology. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2141.1995.tb08364.x
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-westin-1995-interferon-alfa,
author = {Westin, J and Rödjer, S and Turesson, I and Cortelezzi, A and Hjorth, M and Zador, G},
title = {Interferon alfa-2b versus no maintenance therapy during the plateau phase in multiple myeloma: a randomized study. Cooperative Study Group.},
journal = {British journal of haematology},
year = {1995},
doi = {10.1111/j.1365-2141.1995.tb08364.x},
note = {PubMed: 7734355},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/westin-1995-interferon-alfa},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-29. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/westin-1995-interferon-alfa
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