PLACEBO-CONTROLLED TRIAL OF TOPICAL INTERFERON IN LABIAL AND GENITAL HERPES

The efficacy of topical interferon-β (IFN-β) treatment was assessed in 25 patients with herpes of the lips or genitals who completed a 2-year follow-up in a double-blind placebo-controlled trial. IFN-β gel (10⁵ U/g) 4 times daily (about 2 × 10⁴ U) applied locally during eruptions (about 10 days) reduced the mean number of recurrences (p<0·007) and the duration of eruptions (p <0·007): in the placebo group these indices did not change significantly. Reduction of symptoms and severity was noted in 11 of 12 patients on IFN-β and in only 1 on placebo. No important side-effects were recorded. Topical IFN-β may therefore be advantageous as a time-limited local treatment of recurrent herpes simplex virus infections of the genitals and lips.