RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Recurrence of condylomata acuminata following cryotherapy is not prevented by systemically administered interferon.
JF Genitourinary Medicine
JO Genitourin Med
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP 91
OP 93
DO 10.1136/sti.69.2.91
VO 69
IS 2
A1 L J Eron
A1 M B Alder
A1 J M O'Rourke
A1 K Rittweger
A1 J DePamphilis
A1 D J Pizzuti
YR 1993
UL http://sti.bmj.com/content/69/2/91.abstract
AB OBJECTIVE--To determine whether interferon alpha-2a, when utilised as adjuvant chemotherapy following ablation of condylomata acuminata (genital warts) by cryotherapy, is effective in the prevention of recurrences. DESIGN--Randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind study. Statistical analysis was by 2-tailed Fisher's Exact Test. PATIENTS--97 patients with recurrent condylomata acuminata. INTERVENTION--49 patients were treated with cryotherapy plus subcutaneously administered interferon alpha-2a, and 48 received cryotherapy plus placebo. Of these, 36 and 37 patients, respectively, completed the study and were evaluable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE--Clinical eradication of condylomata for six months following adjuvant chemotherapy. RESULTS--By completion of the adjuvant chemotherapy, 10 (28%) interferon recipients and 16 (43%) placebo recipients experienced recurrences. At six months follow-up, 25 (69%) interferon and 27 (73%) placebo recipients experienced recurrences. In the six months following interferon therapy, only 31% of interferon and 27% of placebo recipients remained free of recurrences (p = 0.99). CONCLUSIONS--Interferon alpha-2a administered subcutaneously offers no benefit as a chemotherapeutic adjuvant to cryotherapy when used alone in the therapy of genital warts in this population of patients with recurrent condylomata.