title: Randomized, comparative trial on the sustained efficacy of topical imiquimod 5% cream versus conventional ablative methods in external anogenital warts.
abstract: Conventional ablative treatments for external anogenital warts are affected by high recurrence rates. This study compared sustained clearance after ablation vs. treatment with imiquimod 5% cream vs. the combination of both methods. This was a 3-arm, open-label, randomized clinical study comparing ablation alone (Group A), imiquimod 5% cream monotherapy (Group B), or combined ablation followed by topical imiquimod (Group C). Subjects whose anogenital warts were completely cleared entered a 6-month follow-up to evaluate sustained clearance. After 3 months follow-up, 83.9% (73/87), 93.8% (90/96) and 91.7% (66/72) of subjects in Groups A, B, C, respectively, remained free of recurrent anogenital warts. After 6-months follow-up, 73.6% (64/87), 93.7% (89/95) and 91.5% (65/71) of subjects presented free of recurrence (Group A vs. B & C p-values each p < 0.004 in favour of the imiquimod-treated groups). Imiquimod 5% cream, as monotherapy or in combination with ablation, was superior to ablation alone in reducing the recurrence of successfully treated anogenital warts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Venerology, University Hospital, J.W. Goethe University Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, D-60596 Frankfurt/M, Germany. Schoefer@em.uni-frankfurt.de
authors.forename: Helmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schöfer
authors.forename: Arndt
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Van Ophoven
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Henke
authors.forename: Tamara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lenz
authors.forename: Angelika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eul
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000634:Aminoquinolines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001004:Anus Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005832:Genital Diseases, Male / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077271:Imiquimod; D008297:Male; D012449:Safety; D014860:Warts / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000634:Aminoquinolines; D000077271:Imiquimod