The effects of pegylated interferon--alpha2B on mumps orchitis.

To evaluate the effects of pegylated Interferon--alpha2B on mumps orchitis, 80 patients suffering from mumps orchitis, were randomly assigned into 2 groups of 40 patients each. In the first group patients received pegylated interferon--alpha2B and the other group did not, acting as controls. All were confirmed by mumps IgM (ELISA) and evaluated by testis size, semen analysis and hormone level. In the first group, the symptoms resolved within average 2.2 days and testicular size returned to normal within average 5.3 days but in 2nd group, those returned to normal within average 5.7 days and 10.2 days respectively. In the 1st group, oligospermia was detected in 11 patients and subsequently returned to normal in all patients and there was no testicular atrophy. In the 2nd group oligospermia was detected in 13 patients and were persistently low in 3 patients and testicular atrophy detected in 2 patients. The results indicated the beneficial role of pegylated interferon--alpha2B in preventing infertility from mumps orchitis.