[Management of recurrent genital herpes virus infections in gynecology and obstetrics]. / Management rezidivierender genitaler Herpesinfektionen in Gynäkologie und Geburtshilfe.

Continuous oral therapy with acyclovir (200 mg four times a day or 400 mg twice daily) has been shown to be safe and effective in reducing recurrence of genital herpes by 74-93%. Continuing therapy appears to be safe, even when used for up to 4 years. When an episode of genital herpes is diagnosed in term pregnancy, cesarean section should be considered, even if intrauterine infection is possible until the rupture of membranes. The efficacy of suppressive therapy in term pregnancy to reduce the cesarean section rate is the objective of ongoing studies.

Clinical study with recombinant interferon gamma versus interferon alpha-2c in patients with condylomata acuminata.

A multi-centre, randomized, open-label trial was conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of recombinant interferon (rIFN) alpha-2c versus rIFN gamma in patients with recurrent or persistent condylomata acuminata (CA). Thirty-three such patients were treated either with 6 micrograms rIFN alpha-2c or with 0.1 mg rIFN gamma (both equivalent to 2 x 10E6 IU), single dose, subcutaneously 3 times a week for 6 weeks. In case of no complete clearance at week 10, a second course of treatment with the other type of rIFN was given. There was no significant difference in the complete clearance proportions at week 10 between the two treatment groups (3/16 vs 6/17). No relapses occurred in these patients during the 16 weeks' follow-up. Further clearances during the follow-up resulted in a total complete clearance proportion of 14/33 at the end of study. The treatment was well tolerated. Repeated interferon therapy has its place in treating persistent or recurrent condylomas.

Goserelin (Zoladex) depot in the treatment of endometriosis. Zoladex Endometriosis Study Group.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of Goserelin (Zoladex depot; ICI Pharmaceuticals, Macclesfield, Cheshire, United Kingdom) in the treatment of endometriosis. DESIGN: Open study. SETTING: Eleven centers in Germany and 1 center in Austria. PATIENTS: One hundred forty-six patients with pelvic endometriosis. INTERVENTION: Goserelin (Zoladex depot) therapy, one depot (3.6 mg) subcutaneously every 4 weeks for 6 months. RESULTS: Total subjective score and total pelvic symptom score showed a reduction by 86% and 93%, respectively, at the end of the treatment and did not exceed one fifth of the pretreatment value throughout the follow-up period of 48 weeks. One hundred seven women underwent a second laparoscopy at the end of the therapy for determination of objective efficacy: 54% of the patients showed a reduction of implants and adhesions by at least 50% or more, and 31.5% had a complete resolution of visible deposits. The mean reduction of implants and adhesions was 50%, and the mean reduction of implants 72%. Twenty of 64 (31.3%) previously infertile patients successfully conceived within 12 months after discontinuation of the therapy. Goserelin led to a down regulation of the pituitary ovarian axis and as a pharmacological effect of this hypoestrogenism most patients had hot flushes and vaginal dryness. CONCLUSIONS: Zoladex depot therapy proved to be safe and effective in the medical treatment of endometriosis.