Treatment of experimental genital herpes with liposomal interferon.
: The therapeutic effect of genetically engineered interferon (reaferon) in the treatment of genital herpes in male guinea pigs was studied. The disease was induced in the animals by application of culture liquid containing herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) to the scarified skin of the penis. The affected sites were treated once daily, for 7 days, with different reaferon preparations 1-3 days after the symptoms of the disease had appeared. Reaferon preparations were most effective in the treatment of experimentally induced genital herpes when incorporated into liposomes, had a less pronounced therapeutic effect when mixed with 3% deoxymethylcellulose to form a hydrocolloid, and were least effective in aqueous solution. Incorporation of the antiviral agents acyclovir and Biolf-62 into liposomes also showed improved effectiveness, in comparison with the free compounds, in the treatment of genital herpes in guinea pigs.