Intralesional interferon for the treatment of recalcitrant molluscum contagiosum in HIV antibody positive individuals--a preliminary report.

Molluscum contagiosum is common in HIV disease and available therapies have a poor success rate and require frequent clinic visits. Interferon alpha has been used to treat recalcitrant condylomata acuminata and this study was undertaken to assess the use of this treatment in unresponsive molluscum contagiosum. A total of 30 molluscum contagiosum were injected with one megaunit of interferon alpha weekly for 4 weeks; 11 molluscum contagiosum completely cleared and 18 reduced in size by over 50%. Molluscum less than 0.5 cm in diameter, and those in patients without AIDS were more likely to respond. No surrounding lesions changed in size.