Topical application of human fibroblast interferon (IFN) in cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Fifteen patients with single or multiple lesions of cutaneous leishmaniasis were randomly assigned to apply either IFN-beta-containing cream or a placebo cream base. Despite 8 weeks of therapy no significant improvement of the lesions was achieved. Although topical IFN-beta was not effective in this study, several laboratory studies suggest that IFN, particularly IFN-gamma, may be of therapeutic value in cutaneous leishmaniasis.