[Condylomata acuminata. Recent aspects of clinical signs, pathogenesis and therapy]

Condylomata acuminata and its rare variants (bowenoid papulosis and giant condylomata) are caused by human papilloma viruses (HPV), especially by HPV type 6. In spite of radical surgery, a 68-year-old woman suffering from giant condylomata acuminata of Buschke and Löwenstein on her vulva developed several local recurrences. Assuming that patients with recurring condylomata might have a defect in their cellular immunity, we examined subsets of circulating T-lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of ten patients by means of monoclonal antibodies. T-helper cells were decreased in number; the ratio of T-helper and T-suppressor cells was within the lower normal range. As to the common treatment with podophyllin, several precautions have to be considered in order to avoid local or systemic damage (i.e., irritations, contact dermatitis, vomiting, neuropathies, or fever). The use of interferon seems to be a new alternative. A 21-year-old patient, whose condylomata had been surgically removed six times but had always recurred, was treated with interferon recomb A (rA-INF). This patient has now been treated for eight weeks with 18 mill. I. E. every other day, and he did not develop any recent condylomata.