Topical 5% imiquimod long-term treatment of cutaneous warts resistant to standard therapy modalities.
BACKGROUND
Long-lasting cutaneous warts may represent an unbearable stigma to patients and therefore pose a singular challenge for the physician. Generally, these warts are induced by human papillomavirus (HPV) 2, HPV-27 or HPV-57.


OBJECTIVE
The present study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of long-term treatment with imiquimod 5% cream applied to long-lasting (mean duration 6.3 years) common warts, which had been resistant to previous therapeutic interventions.


METHODS
Imiquimod cream was self-applied by the patients twice daily. Assessment of response and occurrence of side-effects was performed every 4 weeks until clinical cure or up to a maximum of 24 weeks. A total of 37 patients were recruited.


RESULTS
31 out of 37 patients completed the treatment. 10 out of 37 patients experienced a total clearance of their warts (27%). The mean duration to clearance was 19.2 weeks. 18 patients (49%) showed a reduction of more than 50% and 5 patients (14%) a reduction of less than 50%.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data demonstrate that the long-term topical application of imiquimod 5% cream is an effective treatment for otherwise therapy-resistant cutaneous warts without causing any meaningful side-effects.
Grussendorf-Conen
E-I
EI
Department of Dermatology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany. grussendorfconen@post.rwth-aachen.de
Jacobs
S
S
Rübben
A
A
Dethlefsen
U
U
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000287:Administration, Topical; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000634:Aminoquinolines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077271:Imiquimod; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014860:Warts / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000634:Aminoquinolines; D000077271:Imiquimod