Therapy of persistent human papillomavirus disease with two different interferon species

Article Abstract:

Infection of the female genital tract with human papillomavirus (HPV; associated with condylomata acuminatum, or venereal warts) presents difficult treatment problems, because awareness of the extent and seriousness of the problem is only now becoming widespread. Treatment is particularly important because HPV DNA is present in most squamous cancers (a histological type) of this part of the body; thus venereal warts have been associated with cervical cancer. One drug used in treating HPV infections is interferon, a substance normally produced as part of the body's immune response. The effectiveness of two types of interferon, consensus interferon and interferon alpha-2a, against HPV infection was studied in 55 patients who received either the former drug (25 patients) or a placebo (6), or the latter drug (24). Persistent disease was present in all participants, defined as the presence of warts for more than six months and a history of at least 10 treatment attempts. Patients were examined at regular intervals throughout the study and photographs were taken of the affected (lesion-containing) areas at each examination. Patients administered their own drugs by intramuscular injection. After 14 to 16 weeks of treatment with consensus interferon, 20 patients (80 percent) had partial or complete clearing of their lesions. Twenty-two patients (91 percent) who took interferon alpha-2a had similar responses. No placebo patient responded. The side effects of interferon treatment were fever, chills, malaise, and fatigue. Thirty of 34 patients who had either no improvement or partial improvement with interferon underwent additional treatment; 20 then experienced complete clearing of their lesions. Both interferons appeared effective for treating condylomata acuminatum, and use of interferon appears to increase the effectiveness of other therapies used subsequently. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

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Human papillomavirus infection and therapy with interferon

Article Abstract:

Interferon appears to be a promising new treatment for human papillomavirus (HPV) genital infections. Genital warts are highly contagious and some strains appear to cause cancer. Interferon is produced naturally in virus-infected cells. It inhibits viral replication. Five groups of researchers have treated genital warts by injecting interferon into or under the wart or into the muscle. Three groups found interferon more effective than injecting a placebo. Two groups found that interferon completely cleared resistant and persistent warts in 70% and 60% of cases, respectively. Only 6% and 10% of cases, respectively, failed to respond. Outcomes were similar among the studies regardless of administration route. Interferon treatment commonly produced flu-like symptoms of fever, fatigue, headache, muscle ache, and loss of appetite.

Health aspects

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Management of condylomata acuminata with Alferon N injection, interferon alfa-n3 (human leukocyte derived)

Article Abstract:

Interferon-alpha appears to be a promising new treatment for human papillomavirus (HPV) infections. Traditional techniques to remove genital warts may cause ulcers or scars and warts often return. Interferon acts directly as an antiviral agent, inhibits abnormal cell growth, and stimulates the patient's immune system. Of 156 patients with genital warts, 81 received an injection of interferon into the wart twice a week for eight weeks and 75 received a placebo injection. Eighty percent of treated patients responded completely or partially versus 44% of the placebo group. At the end of treatment, interferon reduced the size of the wart by an average of 97%, versus 20% in the placebo group. Seventy-six percent of interferon-treated patients remained free of warts over an average follow-up period of 48 weeks.

Product/Service Evaluation, Alferon N Injection (Medication)

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