Disseminated Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis in Identical Twins Unresponsive to Recombinant Human α-Interferon and Total Body Irradiation

Abstract

Monozygotic twin boys presented at 1 year of age with seborrheic skin rash, otorrhea, and hepatosplenomegaly. Skin biopsy confirmed Langerhans cell histiocytosis. Treatment with conventional antineoplastic drugs and with calf thymus extract was ineffective. The disease remained refractory to recombinant human alpha-interferon and to low-dose total body irradiation, and the children died between 3 and 3 1/2 years of age.