Management of genital warts in women with human leukocyte interferon-α vs. podophyllotoxin in cream: a placebo-controlled, double-blind, comparative study

✍ Scribed by T. A. Syed; M. Khayyami; D. Kriz; K. Svanberg; R. C. Kahlon; S. A. Ahmad; S. A. Ahmad

• Publisher: Springer
• Year: 1995
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 381 KB
• Volume: 73
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0946-2716
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00189926

✦ Synopsis

The purpose of this double-blind, placebocontrolled, comparative study was to evaluate the specific clinical efficacy and tolerance of human leukocyte interferon-~ (2• IU/g) and podophyllotoxin 0.5% incorporated in a hydrophilic cream to cure genital warts. Preselected Asian women (n=60) aged 18-40 years (mean 22.9), with a clinical and biopsy-confirmed diagnosis of genital warts, harboring 322 lesions (mean 5.36) were randomly assigned to three parallel groups to receive one of the two test drugs or placebo. Each patient received a precoded tube (40 g) containing either human leukocyte interferon-s, podophyllotoxin, or identically appearing placebo cream for 3 days' usage. In addition to written instructions, each subject was shown how to apply a minimal amount of trial medication on their lesions thrice daily for 3 consecutive days per week (maximum nine topical applications per week). Patients were examined on a weekly basis, and a cure was considered to be a biopsy-confirmed, total elimination of a lesion. Moreover, patients cured during the study period were spared further therapy, and were requested to return in 16