Bonnez W, Oakes D, Bailey-Farchione A, Choi A, Hallahan D, Corey L, Barnum G, Pappas P G, Halloway M, Stoler M H, Reichman R C
Department of Medicine, University of Rochester, New York 14642, USA.
Antiviral Res. 1997 Jun;35(1):41-52. doi: 10.1016/s0166-3542(97)01037-1.
Forty-nine subjects were enrolled in a study comparing two dosages of parenterally administered interferon (IFN)-beta in combination with cryotherapy for the treatment of anogenital warts. Subjects were randomized to receive subcutaneous injections of either 2 x 10(6) or 4 x 10(6) IU/m2 of IFN-beta (Biogen) three times a week for a total of 6 weeks. Cryotherapy was administered concomitantly by aerosolization of liquid nitrogen at 10-day intervals. Systemic side- effects were modest in intensity and included fever, chills, myalgia, and headaches (flu-like symptoms). During the first 2 weeks of therapy, they were more common in the high dose group than in the low dose group (P = 0.02). Using survival analysis, there was no significant difference between the two groups in rates of resolution of warts present at baseline (P = 0.62). However, the rate of new lesion formation during the study was significantly lower in the high dose group (P = 0.04).
