placebo-controlled study

Systemic treatment modalities for eradication of multiple therapy resistant genital warts are so far not available. In this study laser treated patients with multiple genital warts received postoperatively either interferon alpha-2b subcutaneously (s.c.) 5 x 10' IU or matching placebo three times weekly for four weeks. At the conclusion of the study, 6-8 weeks after discontinuation of therapy, a significantly higher cure rate was found in the group of interferon-treated patients (14 of 27 (52%) patients cured) than among placebo treated patients (5 of 22 (23%) patients cured) (p < 0-05). The side effects of fever, chills, myalgia, headache and leukopenia occurred more commonly in the interferon treated group than in the placebo group. However, only three of 32 patients discontinued interferon therapy because of side effects. We conclude that the addition of s.c. administered interferon alpha-2b to laser treated patients with chronic therapy resistant genital warts is fairly well tolerated and that it significantly enhances the chance ofeliminating the disease. Introduction The optimal treatment modality has not been established in patients with recalcitrant multiple genital warts. A variety of ablative treatments for podophyllin resistant genital warts are available, including cryosurgery, electrocautery and laser therapy. Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Bispebjerg Hospital, University ofCopenhagen Carsten Sand Petersen, John Larsen, L Obergaard Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Marselisborg Hospital, University ofAarhus Peter Bjerring, Ellis From Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Odense Hospital, University ofOdense Hans Hagdrup Department of Gynecology, Righospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark Jan Blaaker Recently both recombinant alpha interferons and lymphoblastoid interferon intralesionally injected have shown to be effective in eradicating small numbers of warts."' Systemic administration of alpha interferons and lymphoblastoid interferon as monotherapy has also demonstrated an effect on human papillomavirus (HPV)-induced lesions," an effect that in one study was comparable to elec-