title: Treatment of genital HPV infection with carbon dioxide laser and systemic interferon alpha-2b.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Treatment of genital warts is problematic. Numerous treatment modalities are available, but response to any therapy often is unsatisfactory. Recently, studies have suggested that interferons would be effective in the treatment of some genital warts.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare carbon dioxide laser with or without adjuvant subcutaneously administered interferon alpha-2b in the treatment of genital human papillomavirus infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred randomized women with genital HPV infection were treated with carbon dioxide laser and adjuvant systemic interferon alpha-2b or carbon dioxide laser and placebo. Patients were followed colposcopically, cytologically, and by HPV DNA testing for 6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Complete response was seen in 62% patients who received adjuvant interferon, and in 68% patients who received placebo. However, recurrence was less common in patients treated with interferon who were infected with HPV 16/18.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Only a subgroup of patients, women infected with HPV DNA 16/18, benefited from adjuvant systemic interferon treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nieminen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aho
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lehtinen
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vesterinen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vaheri
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Paavonen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003218:Condylomata Acuminata / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000145:classification; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012008:Recurrence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D002577:Uterine Cervical Diseases / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology; D014623:Vaginal Diseases / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology; D014845:Vulvar Diseases / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins