Prognostic factors for the response to treatment in males with genital warts.
BACKGROUND
Factors predicting an unfavourable course of genital warts to treatment have not been determined.


METHODS
Behavioural and baseline disease characteristics were recorded from 246 males with anogenital warts. Urethral swabs were obtained and examined using the Hybrid Capture 2 Microplate assay. Patients were treated for their anogenital warts with cryotherapy, imiquimod cream 5% or podophyllotoxin. They were followed up every 3 months for 1 year.


RESULTS
Patients with a negative or low-risk initial test tended to respond earlier to treatment than those with a high/intermediate-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) or with a dual infection (P = 0.028). The response rate was unrelated (P > 0.05) to the duration, number and anatomical location of the lesions and to the patient's age and sexual orientation, and only marginally to the initial extent of the lesion (P = 0.046). However, the type of treatment predicted a favourable response (P < or = 0.001), with patients who received both imiquimod and crotherapy responding worse. Considering all factors simultaneously in logistic regression, only the type of treatment and extent of the disease were found to influence the response rate.


CONCLUSIONS
The type of treatment and extent of the disease were the only factors found critical for patients' response.
Stefanaki
C
C
Sexually Transmitted Infections Unit, Dermatology Department, University of Athens, Andreas Sygros Hospital, Athens, Greece. cstefana@otenet.gr
Hadjivassiliou
M
M
Katzouranis
I
I
Bethimoutis
G
G
Nicolaidou
E
E
Anyfantakis
V
V
Lagogianni
E
E
Caroni
C
C
Panagiotopoulos
A
A
Antoniou
C
C
Katsambas
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000634:Aminoquinolines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001004:Anus Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003218:Condylomata Acuminata / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D017679:Cryotherapy; D005832:Genital Diseases, Male / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077271:Imiquimod; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011034:Podophyllotoxin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011379:Prognosis
D000634:Aminoquinolines; D011034:Podophyllotoxin; D000077271:Imiquimod