Interferon alpha-2b dependent recalcitrant genital warts

Aggressive and chronic disfiguring large penile warts, where previous treatment had been unsuccessful, were flattened in a non-immunocompromised patient treated with interferon alpha-2b 5 x 10(6) I.U. subcutaneously three times a week. Cessation of therapy resulted in rapid recurrence of lesions, indicating persistence of the viral infection. Systemic interferon therapy, however, was the only remedy that could suppress the disease. Only transient and mild systemic toxicity was observed. Subcutaneously injected interferon alpha-2b should be considered in patients with otherwise therapy resistant large or disseminated genital warts.