Interferon treatment of human genital papillomavirus infection: importance of viral type.

Eighteen women and 6 of their male sexual partners with lower genital tract infections caused by various human papillomavirus (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 complete 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.