title: Topical 5% 5-fluorouracil cream in the treatment of plantar warts: a prospective, randomized, and controlled clinical study.
abstract: Topical 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is an antineoplastic antimetabolite that inhibits DNA and RNA synthesis, thereby preventing cell replication and proliferation. This mechanism of action may allow topical 5-FU to be utilized in the treatment of human papilloma virus (HPV). We conducted a study comparing 5% 5-FU cream under tape occlusion versus tape occlusion alone in 40 patients presenting with plantar warts. Nineteen out of 20 patients (95%) randomized to 5% 5-FU with tape occlusion had complete eradication of all plantar warts within 12 weeks of treatment. The average time to cure occurred at 9 weeks of treatment. Three patients (15%) had a recurrence at the 6-month follow-up visit; accordingly, an 85% sustained cure rate was observed. It is concluded that use of topical 5% 5-fluorouracil cream for plantar warts is safe, efficacious, and accepted by the patient.
authors.affiliation: Northern California Foot and Ankle Center, San Francisco and Santa Rosa, CA, USA. drsalk@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Robert S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Salk
authors.forename: Kirk A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Grogan
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004643:Emollients; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005534:Foot Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011336:Probability; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014860:Warts / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D004643:Emollients; D005472:Fluorouracil