title: Therapy of genital herpes with topically applied interferon.
abstract: Ninety-four patients with recurrences of genital herpes were randomized in a double-blind trial to receive topical therapy for 5 days with either alpha-2a interferon at 30 X 10(6) IU/ml or 10 X 10(6) IU/ml or placebo six times daily. No differences were noted between either interferon dose and placebo with respect to the duration of viral shedding, the time to crusting, or the time to healing of herpetic lesions. Aqueous solutions of alpha-2a interferon applied topically to unroofed vesicles do not appear to be clinically useful in the treatment of recurrences of genital herpes.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Fairfax Hospital, Falls Church, Virginia 22046.
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Eron
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Toy
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Salsitz
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Scheer
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.forename: P I
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Nadler
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011897:Random Allocation; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012008:Recurrence
chemical_list: D007370:Interferon Type I; D011994:Recombinant Proteins