THERAPEUTICAL NOTES   

Gazzetta Medica Italiana Archivio per le Scienze Mediche 1998 February;157(1):27-9

Copyright © 1998 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Systemic and topical use of interferon alfa in the treatment of Herpes genitalis

Zarcone R., Monarca M., Vullo G., Longo M., Tommasillo G., Lizza R., Tartaglia E.

Seconda Università degli Studi di Napoli, Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Istituto di Ginecologia ed Ostetricia

Methods. The efficacy of interferon in the treatment of Herpes genitalis has been studied at the Gynecologic and Obstetric Institute of Second University of Naples. Thirteen women, from 18 to 47 years old, suffering from Herpes genitalis were treated with interferon i.m., 3000000 UI twice a week for 6 weeks, in association with interferon cream-gel 2-3 times a day for 6 weeks.
Results. Ten patients presented only vulvar vescicules, while the remaining 3 also had periurethral or perianal or pelvic localizations.
In 5 patients the infection was relapsing. Subjective symptomatology consisted of pain (10 patients), itch (13 patients), burning (13 patients), dyspareunia (5 patients), leukorrhea (4 patients) and dysuria (3 patients). At the end of therapy, the symptomatology regressed in all patients, only two of them still had pain and only one leukorrhea.
Conclusions. After 6 months from the end of therapy the patients were submitted to a follow-up. No relapses were observed 6 months after the end of treatment.