title: Effects of interferon-alpha2b on keloid treatment with triamcinolone acetonide intralesional injection.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: 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.
authors.forename: June Hyunkyung
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Seong Eon
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ai-Young
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide