Pf. Rockley et Sk. Tyring, INTERFERON-ALPHA, INTERFERON-BETA AND INTERFERON-GAMMA THERAPY OF ANOGENITAL HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS INFECTIONS, Pharmacology & therapeutics, 65(2), 1995, pp. 265-287
Anogenital condyloma acuminatum (genital warts) is the most commonly d
iagnosed sexually transmitted viral disease in the United States. At l
east 14 of the more than 60 types of human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are
responsible for condyloma acuminatum. Anogenital condyloma acuminatum
has a broad spectrum of manifestations in men and women, including su
bclinical latent infection, clinically apparent warts, abnormal genita
l cytology and squamous carcinoma. Traditional therapeutic modalities
include cytolytic chemical agents and ablative techniques. These anti-
wart methods are used in an attempt to eliminate clinically apparent d
isease. However, they are associated with high rates of recurrence bec
ause they do not eradicate the subclinical or latent reservoir of HPV
remaining in adjacent epithelial cells and mucous membranes. Immunolog
ic therapy with interferons (IFNs) represents a promising new antivira
l modality that can be directed against all sites of infection, includ
ing clinical, subclinical and latent disease. IFN-alpha, IFN-beta and
IFN-gamma are the three major groups of IFNs. These three groups of IF
Ns have been used successfully as monotherapy or in combination with t
raditional modalities to treat anogenital condyloma acuminatum. This r
eview focuses on IFN-alpha, IFN-beta and IFN-gamma therapy of anogenit
al HPV infections.