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The authors have investigated the efficacy of i.m. therapy with interferon (IFN) in the treatment of female genital condylomatosis: 94 consecutive patients underwent a randomized therapy with two different IFNs: beta-IFN and alpha-2A-IFN (3,000.000 UI i.m. on alternate days for 4 weeks). A total and/or partial response was observed in 76.5% of cases (72/94). Observed response was unrelated with used IFN, independently of type and seat of treated lesion. There was only an important difference between the two treatments in the incidence of side-effects and drop-out (31% and 6.3% with alpha-2A-IFN and 14.8% and 2.1% with beta-IFN). Systemic therapy with IFN is a good alternative to destructive techniques in the treatment of HPV-associated pathology of female lower genital tract.

In the period 9-1989/12-1991, 47 fertile women affected by genital HPV infection have been treated with i.m. systemic beta-interferon (3 x 10 x 6 UI every other day for 4 weeks). We have noticed 1 case of drop-out (2, 1%). At the short-medium follow-up (> or = 6 months), the therapy has proved to be probably and/or certainly efficacious in 74.4% of cases (35/47). In patients with condylomas in the cervical region, the less respondent part, we have noticed a reaction in 64.3% of cases; in those who have an extra-cervical or diffused HPV infection, in 89.4%. In the patients with complete follow-up, treated with supplementary DTC if necessary, the recovery ratio reached 92.5%. The i.m. systemic therapy with beta-IFN is efficacious in the treatment of genital HPV infections: it is well tolerated and offers the possibility of obtaining a useful "therapeutic integration" with the traditional destructive physical techniques of therapy.