Dinitrochlorbenzene (DNCB) treatment of viral warts. A 5-year follow-up study.
A series of 43 patients with therapy-resistant viral warts of long-duration were treated with dinitrochlorbenzene (DNCB). Of the 37 patients, who completed the treatment, 19 were cured, including five of seven patients with hyperkeratotic tumor-like warts. The majority of the patients showed a depressed cell-mediated immune response. 25 patients were reexamined 5 years later and 8 additional patients answered on inquiry. Six (18%) of these patients had warts. Eight of the 21 primarily tuberculin-negative patients had developed immunity to tuberculin, and none of them had warts. Five of the 6 patients with warts were still tuberculin-negative. The reaction to DNCB had reverted to negative in 17 (68%) out of 25 tested patients and in the majority of the remaining cases a weak reaction only was seen. The study does not tell if the cure is a consequence of the DNCB treatment or a function of time. However, it shows that cure is associated with normalization of the cell-mediated immune response. The DNCB hypersensitivity seemed to disappear with time and late complications were not documented.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004137:Dinitrochlorobenzene / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009578:Nitrobenzenes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D014374:Tuberculin Test; D014860:Warts / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology
D004137:Dinitrochlorobenzene; D009578:Nitrobenzenes