Effects of interferon-alpha2b on keloid treatment with triamcinolone acetonide intralesional injection.
BACKGROUND
Triamcinolone acetonide intralesional injection (TAIL) has been used for the treatment of keloids, but only with limited success. Interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) is the most widely used IFN, and has mainly antiviral, antiproliferative, and antitumoral functions. A few studies have evaluated the efficacy of IFN-alpha2b in controlled trials for the treatment of keloids.


OBJECTIVE
To compare the efficacy and side-effects of keloid treatment using IFN-alpha2b and TAIL, and TAIL only.


METHODS
Twenty lesions (combined TAIL + IFN-alpha2b group) and 20 control lesions (TAIL-only group) were studied in 19 patients (14 women and five men). The age range was 7-51 years (mean age, 24.6 years). Both groups were treated with TAIL every 2 weeks. The combined TAIL + IFN-alpha2b group was treated with intralesional injection of IFN-alpha2b, twice a week. Lesion measurements were made using thread, glue, and alginate.


RESULTS
Statistically significant decreases in depth (81.6%, P = 0.005) and volume (86.6%, P = 0.002) were observed in lesions of the combined TAIL + IFN-alpha2b group. In the TAIL-only group, the decreases in depth (66.0%, P = 0.281) and volume (73.4%, P = 0.245) were less statistically significant. The main side-effects were fever and flu-like symptoms, mild pain, and inflammation at the injection site.


CONCLUSIONS
Intralesional IFN-alpha2b is an effective and safe treatment for keloids. Although the recurrence rate is as yet unknown, more than 80% improvement was noted in the majority of cases. Hence, adjuvant intralesional IFN-alpha2b should be considered, particularly for patients who have a history of failed corticosteroid injections.
Lee
June Hyunkyung
JH
Department of Dermatology, Eulji Medical Center, College of Medicine, Eulji University, Seoul, and Department of Dermatology, Dongguk University School of Medicine, Kyenggi-do, South Korea.
Kim
Seong Eon
SE
Lee
Ai-Young
AY
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D015552:Injections, Intralesional; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007627:Keloid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide