title: Response to podophyllotoxin treatment of genital warts in relation to HIV-1 infection among patients in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
abstract: Forty-two Tanzanian patients with genital warts were treated with 0.5% podophyllotoxin solution (Wartec) for 3 days. Thirteen patients (30.9%) were cured and a further 7 patients (16.7%) had more than 50% of lesions cleared at 6 weeks, while 19 patients were resistant to treatment. Three patients had a recurrence of lesions after an initial response. Thirty-three patients were tested for serological evidence of infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and 15 (45.5%) patients were shown to be HIV-1 antibody positive. The response to treatment was analysed in relation to HIV antibody status. The cure rate was significantly higher in HIV seronegative patients (8/18 = 44.4%) compared to HIV seropositive patients (1/15 = 6.7%) (P = 0.018). We conclude that podophyllotoxin treatment provides a useful non-hospital based treatment for genital warts, but HIV infection appears to contribute to the failure of treatment for genital warts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics/Gynaecology, Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Kilewo
authors.forename: W K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Urassa
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pallangyo
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mhalu
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Biberfeld
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wigzell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003218:Condylomata Acuminata / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011034:Podophyllotoxin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013636:Tanzania; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D011034:Podophyllotoxin