[Interferon and herpes].

Interferon, a protein produced by cells, is the only non-toxic antiviral inhibiting virus multiplication in the cell. Although the industrial-technical production of the substance is more expensive the exogenic interferon treatment (interferon which is produced in cell cultures is being administered to the organism) is preferred to the endogenous interferon therapy (by application of slightly-toxic substances the organism is stimulated to produce interferon) since with the first therapy the factor toxicity can be neglected. Clinical trials with exogenous interferon treatment of herpes virus infections of men gave encouraging results, they must however be confirmed by double blind studies. Should it come to a clinical application of interferon on a large scale, first of all methods of production must be worked out to make available sufficient exogenous interferon for treatment of patients.