Effects of cyclophosphamide combined with prednisone on TNF-α expression in treatment of patients with interstitial lung disease

Effects of cyclophosphamide combined with prednisone on TNF-α expression in the treatment of patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD), and its clinical significance were investigated. A prospective analysis was performed on 198 patients with ILD in Jinan Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University from January 2010 to December 2017. Among them, 101 patients treated with cyclophosphamide combined with prednisone were assigned in the combined treatment group, and 97 patients treated with prednisone alone in the control group. Patients in the two groups were compared in terms of lung function, St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) score, clinical efficacy, adverse reactions and TNF-α expression levels before and after treatment. After treatment, the patients in the combined treatment group had significantly higher forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in first second (FEV1) compared with the control group, but significantly lower diffusing capacity of lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO) and DLCO% (P<0.05). In both groups, patients after treatment had higher FVC and FEV1, but lower DLCO and DLCO% (P<0.05), compared with before treatment, while SGRQ score before treatment was higher than that after treatment (P<0.05). Compared with control group, the combined treatment group had significantly more patients with complete remission (CR) and higher total effective rate, however less patients with stable disease (SD) (P<0.05). Patients with adverse reactions in the combined treatment group were less than those in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, TNF-α expression level in the combined treatment group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0.05), and TNF-α expression before treatment was higher than that after treatment in both groups (P<0.05). In conclusion, cyclophosphamide combined with prednisone is effective and safe in the treatment of ILD without severe adverse reactions, reducing TNF-α expression level, and therefore is worthy of clinical application.