Chronic recurrent aphthous stomatitis: oral treatment with low-dose interferon alpha.

Recombinant human interferon alfa-2a (HuIFN alpha) was administered orally once daily in a low concentration (1,200 IU/day) to nine patients with chronic recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS), and a placebo solution was given to 10 control chronic RAS patients in a double-blind study. All HuIFN alpha-treated patients had total remission of their aphthae within a 2-week period, while placebo control patients had no change in their condition. The 10 placebo control patients were then treated with HuIFN alpha in a manner identical to that used for the initial principal group. Within a 2-week period, all original placebo patients had complete remission of their aphthae. Eleven of the patients did not have a recurrence of RAS during a subsequent 6-month observation period. Eight patients had recurring aphthae; however, the lesions were resolved by retreating with oral HuIFN alpha for less than 1 week.