title: Topical imiquimod 5% cream in external anogenital warts: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
abstract: The complete treatment of anogenital warts has not been obtained with any combination of methods; therefore, new methods are still under investigation. In this study the activity and side effects of imiquimod 5% cream were investigated. The study group consisted of 23 male and 11 female volunteers and the control group of 9 male and 2 female volunteers. Patients applied the cream three times a week, every other day in the evenings for a period of 12 weeks. After the treatment, patients were regularly monitored for six months for recurrences. At the end of the study, 23 (69.7%) patients (all of females and 54.5% of males) in the study group displayed a complete clearance, 9 patients displayed 50-90% clearance and 1 patient displayed less than 50% clearance. In the control group, only 1 patient displayed a complete clearance, 1 patient displayed 50-90% clearance, and the other 8 patients showed no alteration in the lesions. These results were statistically significantly different (p<0.01). In 15 patients in the study group, no side effects were reported; the most frequently seen side effects were erythema and erosion. In six patients that were observed for a period of six months, recurrences occurred. Imiquimod 5% cream is a topically applied medicament that should be considered as an effective and reliable medical option in the treatment of anogenital warts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Medical Faculty, Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University, Kahramanmaras, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ozer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Arican
authors.forename: Funda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Guneri
authors.forename: Kaan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bilgic
authors.forename: Aynur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karaoglu
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000634:Aminoquinolines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001004:Anus Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D003218:Condylomata Acuminata / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005832:Genital Diseases, Male / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D000077271:Imiquimod; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000634:Aminoquinolines; D000077271:Imiquimod