Bonnez W, Oakes D, Bailey-Farchione A, Choi A, Hallahan D, Pappas P, Holloway M, Corey L, Barnum G, Dunne A
Department of Medicine, University of Rochester, New York, USA.
J Infect Dis. 1995 May;171(5):1081-9. doi: 10.1093/infdis/171.5.1081.
One hundred fifty-two patients were enrolled in a study to evaluate 3 interferon (IFN) preparations used in combination with cryotherapy for treatment of anogenital warts. Subjects received subcutaneous injections (2 x 10(6) units/m2) of IFN-alpha n1, -beta, -gamma or placebo 3 times a week for 6 weeks and cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen. Subjects were followed < or = 1 year. Among patients followed > or = 12 weeks, two-thirds had a complete response. No significant differences in rates of complete response (P = .37) or reappearance of a wart at the initial site (P = .20) were noted among the treatment groups. However, patients who received IFN-beta or -gamma developed new warts at a significantly lower frequency (P = .02). IFN administration was associated with side effects but was well tolerated. IFN-beta was the least toxic of the 3 preparations and had the best therapeutic ratio.
