Interferon treatment of human genital papillomavirus infection: Importance of viral type

Abstract

Eighteen women and 6 of their male sexual partners with lower genital tract infections caused by various human papil-iomavirus (HPV) types were treated with systemic or topical interferon (IFN) application. All patients with vulvar or penile lesions had a history of podophyllin or surgical treatment. In the female group, 9 patients showed complete response, 8 patients partial response and 1 patient no response. In the male patients complete response was seen in all patients. The response rate appears to depend on the HPV type present. Women with an HPV 16/18 infection showed a lower response rate to IFN treatment (complete response in 5 out of 14 patients), whereas lesions caused by HPV 6(11) showed com- plete response in all 4 cases. During follow-up examinations (mean 7.5 months) no recurrence of disease was observed. Systemic treatment showed tolerable and temporary side- effects. Topical treatment yielded identical efficacy and no side-effects.