Silver nitrate may be far superior to podophyllin in clearing HPV external anogenital warts.
Longitudinal data from a case series indicated that clearance rates (95% CIs) of anogenital warts (AGW) by silver nitrate (n = 14) and podophyllin (n = 34) were 93% (79.35, 100) and 14.7% (3, 27) respectively; and RR, 6.31 (95% CI 2.77, 14.37, p = 0.052), relative benefit increase, 532% (410, 654), and NNT, 1 (1, 2). The total effort needed US$28(BB$56) vs US$598 in 1-3 vs 1-37 visits to achieve one successfully treated patient respectively. While subject to the errors of an open, non-randomized case series, silver nitrate was highly efficacious and cost-effective and should replace podophyllin at the Winston Scot Polyclinic.
Lwegaba
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A
School of Clinical Medicine and Research, The University of the West Indies, Cavehill, Barbados. Lwegaba@lycos.com
Phillips
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A
Kiraru
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R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003218:Condylomata Acuminata / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011033:Podophyllin / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012835:Silver Nitrate / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D011033:Podophyllin; D012835:Silver Nitrate