title: Recombinant human interferon-beta in the treatment of condylomata acuminata.
abstract: The number of clinic consultations for condylomata acuminata (genital warts) has increased substantially during the last 30 years. Most infections produce benign lesions but a few types may be associated with cervical and penile cancers. Interferons (IFN) have shown antiviral properties to these infections and IFN-beta in particular has demonstrated a specific cytopathic effect in humans. A total of 124 patients with condylomata acuminata, the majority of whom had failed previous therapy, were treated intralesionally with either recombinant human interferon-beta la (r-hIFN-beta-1a) or placebo. Up to 6 lesions were treated in each patient, and injections were made 3 times per week for a total of 9 injections. The patients were then followed up for 3 months. Efficacy assessments at all time points (day 19, week 6 and month 3) showed a clear advantage for the r-hIFN-beta-1a interferon-beta treatment. Patients receiving r-hIFN-beta-1a showed a greater proportion of treatment success in terms of the complete or partial reduction (at least 50%) of the total area of the treated lesions. The treatment was also well tolerated. Headache, flu-like symptoms and asthenia were more common in patients receiving r-hIFN-beta-1a, but these adverse events were generally mild in severity and rarely led to patient withdrawal. It was concluded that r-hIFN-beta-1a has good efficacy in condylomata acuminata, and therefore presents a useful therapeutic alternative in this hard-to-treat condition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genito-Urinary Medicine, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Dinsmore
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jordan
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: O'Mahony
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McMillan
authors.forename: K W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Radcliffe
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Engrand
authors.forename: B W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Galazka
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Abdul-Ahad
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Illingworth
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003218:Condylomata Acuminata / Q000628:therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015552:Injections, Intralesional; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016899:Interferon-beta; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a