BACKGROUND: New treatment options for warts include intralesional wart injection with agents such as vitamin D, measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine antigen, Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) antigen, and candida antigen but there have been limited studies to compare their efficacies. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this systematic review is to compare the efficacy and safety of injectable agents used for the treatment of warts. METHODS: A PubMed search included terms "intralesional wart therapy," "wart injection" and "verruca injection." Articles reviewed were published over 10 years. RESULTS: A total of 43 articles were reviewed; 30 covered studies with more than 10 participants and 13 were case reports, case series, and reviews. In comparison studies intralesional agents have equal or superior efficacy (66%-94.9%) compared to first-line salicylic acid or cryotherapy (65.5-76.5%). One advantage of intralesional injections is the rate of complete resolution of distant warts. LIMITATIONS: Each study varied in their agents, treatment interval, and treatment dose, making comparisons difficult. CONCLUSIONS: Intralesional wart injections are safe, affordable, and efficacious treatments for warts. Physicians should consider intralesional injections for patients with refractory warts, multiple warts, or warts in sensitive areas.
BACKGROUND: New treatment options for warts include intralesional wart injection with agents such as vitamin D, measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine antigen, Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) antigen, and candida antigen but there have been limited studies to compare their efficacies. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this systematic review is to compare the efficacy and safety of injectable agents used for the treatment of warts. METHODS: A PubMed search included terms "intralesional wart therapy," "wart injection" and "verruca injection." Articles reviewed were published over 10 years. RESULTS: A total of 43 articles were reviewed; 30 covered studies with more than 10 participants and 13 were case reports, case series, and reviews. In comparison studies intralesional agents have equal or superior efficacy (66%-94.9%) compared to first-line salicylic acid or cryotherapy (65.5-76.5%). One advantage of intralesional injections is the rate of complete resolution of distant warts. LIMITATIONS: Each study varied in their agents, treatment interval, and treatment dose, making comparisons difficult. CONCLUSIONS: Intralesional wart injections are safe, affordable, and efficacious treatments for warts. Physicians should consider intralesional injections for patients with refractory warts, multiple warts, or warts in sensitive areas.
Authors: Richard Nuccitelli; Brenda M LaTowsky; Edward Lain; Girish Munavalli; Lesley Loss; E Victor Ross; Lauren Jauregui; William A Knape Journal: Lasers Surg Med Date: 2021-05-19