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document
Randomized clinical trial comparing systemic interferon with diathermocoagulation in primary multiple and widespread anogenital condyloma . Two hundred three patients ( median age 26 years ; range 18-45 ) with untreated multiple and widespread anogenital condyloma were randomly assigned to one of four study arms in order to compare the efficacy , toxicity , and tolerability of recombinant interferon alpha-2b with those of diathermocoagulation . Of 200 evaluable patients , 51 were treated intramuscularly ( IM ) with 3 x 10 ( 6 ) U ( 3 MU ) /m2 daily for 3 weeks ( total dose 63 MU/m2 ) , 50 received subcutaneous thrice-weekly injections of 3 MU/m2 for 4 weeks ( total dose 36 MU/m2 ) , 51 underwent diathermocoagulation , and 48 were not treated and were used as a control group . Six months after the end of treatment , the overall response rate ( complete and partial responses ) was 70 % : 57 and 82 % for patients receiving interferon alpha-2b ( IM and subcutaneously ) and diathermocoagulation , respectively , and 8 % for the control group . After 6 months from therapy , no significant differences in complete response were found among the different types of treatment : 20 , 20 , and 35 % for the two interferon groups and the diathermocoagulation group , respectively . Fifteen and two complete responders in the cauterization and interferon groups , respectively , experienced disease recurrence ( P less than .01 ) . All patients given interferon therapy complained of flu-like symptoms , which declined progressively after the first week of treatment . Fatigue , lasting as long as patients received interferon , was the most prevalent chronic side effect . We conclude that systemic recombinant interferon alpha-2b is active in treating patients with primary condyloma lesions and does so as well as cauterization . ( ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS )
73693
Intervention_Pharmacological
interferon
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Intervention_Pharmacological
diathermocoagulation
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Intervention_Pharmacological
recombinant interferon alpha-2b
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Intervention_Pharmacological
diathermocoagulation
73697
Intervention_Physical
intramuscularly
73698
Intervention_Pharmacological
diathermocoagulation
73699
Intervention_Pharmacological
interferon alpha-2b
73700
Intervention_Pharmacological
diathermocoagulation
73701
Intervention_Pharmacological
diathermocoagulation
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Intervention_Pharmacological
interferon therapy
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Intervention_Pharmacological
interferon
73704
Outcome_Other
efficacy
73705
Outcome_Physical
toxicity
73706
Outcome_Other
tolerability
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Outcome_Other
overall response rate ( complete and partial responses )
73708
Outcome_Other
complete response
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Outcome_Physical
disease recurrence
73710
Outcome_Adverse-effects
flu-like symptoms
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Outcome_Adverse-effects
Fatigue
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Outcome_Adverse-effects
side effect