Cimetidine therapy for epidermodysplasia verruciformis.

A 16-year-old boy with an 8-year history of multiple slightly keratotic papules on his face, trunk, and limbs, is described. On the basis of clinical features, histologic examination of 2 lesions and positivity for HPV 5, a diagnosis of epidermodysplasia verruciformis was made. Treatment with oral cimetidine (40 mg/kg per day) induced a marked improvement after 3 months of therapy, with no relapse at a 6-month follow-up.