Recombinant alpha-2 interferon gel treatment of recurrent herpes genitalis

Topical recombinant alpha-2 interferon treatment of recurrent genital herpes was studied in a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled clinical trial. Three hundred and eighty-seven patients were treated at eight study centers with either interferon gel or placebo four times daily for four days. Interferon therapy caused a 26% decrease in the duration of viral shedding. For male patients, there were also significant decreases in the time to crusting (17%) and duration of pain (34%) and itching (21%). For patients with recurrent genital herpes, treatment with topical interferon was found to be effective in decreasing the duration of viral shedding and, for males, pain, itching and time to crusting.