title: Therapeutic protocol of vulvar and cervical HPV-infection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The stages of HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) infection are under the control of the immune system, which is inhibited by the virus itself. Thus, at present the treatment of condyloma acuminata is based on the use of interferon (IFN). The aim of the present study was to evaluate immune system activation and clinical response to IFN therapy. In addition, in the most serious cases, medical treatment with IFN was associated with diathermocoagulation (DTC) of persistent warts. The effectiveness of the combined therapy was also assessed.
  
  
  METHODS
  7 women (age range: 16-52) suffering from cervix condylomata were selected for our study. All of them were injected intramuscularly with doses of 3 million UI of IFN-alpha leucocytar every three days for six weeks together with daily applications of alpha-IFN for six weeks. The women that were still ill three months after IFN therapy, were treated with DTC. In one case, another cycle of IFN treatment was necessary.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Clinical response to IFN treatment was complete in 46 cases, partial in 20 cases and unsuccessful in 4 cases. After three months of medical therapy, 30 women were treated with DTC. After this therapy, in 21 cases, the warts were resolved. After 24 months the percentage of relapse was 37.9% when only IFN was used, and 4.51% when IFN was combined with DTC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that a successful protocol for the treatment of condyloma acuminata consist of IFN therapy associated with DTC when warts persisted.
authors.affiliation: 2nd University, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zarcone
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bellini
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carfora
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Monarca
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vicinanza
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cardone
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004564:Electrocoagulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D027383:Papillomaviridae; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000628:therapy*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012074:Remission Induction; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000628:therapy*; D002577:Uterine Cervical Diseases / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology*; D014845:Vulvar Diseases / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D007370:Interferon Type I; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins