Interferon alpha  treatment of molluscum contagiosum in immunodeficiency

Abstract

A sister (aged 6 years) and brother (aged 8 years) presented four months apart with severe molluscum contagiosum. Both children demonstrated clinical and laboratory evidence of combined immunodeficiency. The extent of skin involvement by molluscum contagiosum precluded conventional treatment as well as intralesional interferon (IFN ). Both subjects responded well to subcutaneous IFN . (Arch Dis Child 1999;80:77-79)

Disseminated Giant Molluscum Contagiosum in a Patient with Idiopathic CD4+ Lymphocytopenia

“…Interestingly, the presence of an immune-mediated disease such as alopecia areata or atopic dermatitis does not exclude ICL. Our present observation on the beneficial effect of pegylated IFN-α2b in molluscum contagiosum confirms other reports on the usefulness of systemic IFN in this infection [5, 6]. …”

Interferon-α Treatment of Molluscum Contagiosum in a Patient With Hyperimmunoglobulin E Syndrome

“…9,10 Topical or systemic immunotherapy with immunomodulators shows potential for effective and patient-friendly treatment of cutaneous viral infections. They generate cytokine milieu biases toward a T-helper 1 cell-mediated immune response with the generation of cytotoxic effectors, and this has been exploited clinically in the treatment of viral infections, including human papillomavirus, herpes simplex virus, and MC.…”

Treatment of Molluscum Contagiosum in Adult, Pediatric, and Immunodeficient Populations

“…After the incomplete success of the initial report, the next study in 1999 employed subcutaneous injections and increased dose frequency to 3 megaunits of IFN-a three times a week for 6 months and then, afterwards, weekly injections for 3 months. 22 This treatment strategy successfully achieved 95% clearance of molluscum in two siblings suffering from putative combined immunodeficiency. A 9-year-old with hyperimmunoglobulin E syndrome also underwent the same therapy schedule as the siblings.…”