title: Interferon alpha-2b as adjuvant treatment of recurrent respiratory papillomatosis in Cuba: National Programme (1994-1999 report).
abstract: Respiratory papillomatosis is a life-spoiling disease due to its high recurrence rate. Interferon (IFN)alpha-2b treatment, adjuvant to surgery, was assessed for its contribution to disease control and patient quality of life improvement. One hundred and sixty-nine patients (85 children and 84 adults) were included after surgical removal of the lesions followed by intramuscular IFN alpha-2b (Heberon alfa R, Heber Biotec), starting with 10(5) IU/Kg weight in children or 6 x 10(6) IU in adults, three times per week. The dose was reduced monthly, if no relapses occurred, until a monthly maintenance with 5 x 10(4) IU/Kgof weight in children or 3 x 10(6) IU in adults up to two years. In case of relapse, it was surgically removed and the patient returned to the higher dose level. The relapse frequency decreased significantly in 77 percent (69/90) of the recurrent patients both in children (34/46, 74 per cent) and adults (35/44, 79 per cent). Among patients included after their first papilloma, 67 per cent (44/66) had complete (no relapses) or partial (only one relapse) responses (children: 15/33, 45 per cent; adults 29/33, 88 per cent). One hundred and eighteen patients (73 per cent) concluded the treatment without lesions (children: 58 per cent; adults 82 per cent), while the rest showed a significant reduction in the number and size of lesions. IFN was well tolerated. Sixty-two patients (38 per cent) did not have adverse events. The main adverse reactions were fever (59 per cent), chills (24 per cent), arthralgias and myalgias (14 per cent) and headache (10 per cent). One patient developed anti-IFN alpha neutralizing antibodies and became resistant to treatment with recombinant IFN alpha-2b; he responded to natural leucocyte IFN alpha. Treatment with IFN alpha-2b, as an adjuvant to surgery represents a favourable and safe therapeutic alternative for patients with recurrent respiratory papillomatosis.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, La Habana, Cuba. hugo.nodarse@cigb.edu.cu
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nodarse-Cuní
authors.forename: Nora
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Iznaga-Marín
authors.forename: Ditza
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Viera-Alvarez
authors.forename: Hortensia
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Gómez
authors.forename: Héctor
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fernández-Fernández
authors.forename: Yazmín
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Blanco-López
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Viada-González
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: López-Saura
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010212:Papilloma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012008:Recurrence; D012142:Respiratory Tract Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins