Efficacy and safety of combined high-dose interferon and red light therapy for the treatment of human papillomavirus and associated vaginitis and cervicitis: A prospective and randomized clinical study.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

We evaluated the efficacy and safety of combined high-dose interferon (IFN) and red light therapy for the treatment of subclinical and latent human papillomavirus (HPV) infections.

METHODS:

Ninety women diagnosed with subclinical or latent HPV infection were randomized to receive topical application of low-dose recombinant IFNα-2b (1 million IU), high-dose IFNα-2b (9 million IU), or a combination of high-dose IFNα-2b and red light therapy on the cervix and vagina. All patients received treatment once daily for 4 weeks. HPV titer was measured immediately and 4, 8, and 12 weeks after treatment to determine the rates of viral clearance and infection cure. Treatment of HPV-associated vaginitis and cervicitis was also evaluated.

RESULTS:

Results showed that immediately and 4, 8, and 12 weeks after treatment, the HPV clearance rates and infection cure rates were higher in the high-dose IFN and combination groups compared to the low-dose IFN group. High-dose IFN and combination therapies were significantly effective against both low-risk and high-risk HPV infections. Although the cure rates for vaginitis and cervicitis were significantly higher in the high- compared to the low-dose IFN group, rates were even higher in the combination group compared to the high-dose IFN group. Mild adverse effects were reported by a very small subset of patients (3/30) in the combination group.

CONCLUSIONS:

This study suggests that combination of high-dose IFN and red light therapy is safe and effective against subclinical and latent HPV infections.

• Authors: Hui-Juan Shi, Hongbin Song, Qian-Ying Zhao, Chun-Xia Tao, Min Liu, Qin-Qin Zhu
• Journal: Medicine (Medicine (Baltimore)) Vol. 97 Issue 37 Pg. e12398 (09 2018) ISSN: 1536-5964 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 30213012 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Antiviral Agents
• Interferon alpha-2
• Interferon-alpha
• Recombinant Proteins

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Antiviral Agents (administration & dosage)
• Combined Modality Therapy
• Female
• Humans
• Interferon alpha-2
• Interferon-alpha (administration & dosage)
• Middle Aged
• Papillomaviridae
• Papillomavirus Infections (therapy, virology)
• Phototherapy (methods)
• Prospective Studies
• Recombinant Proteins (administration & dosage)
• Single-Blind Method
• Treatment Outcome
• Uterine Cervicitis (therapy, virology)
• Vaginitis (therapy, virology)
• Young Adult