title: Efficacy of combination therapy of oral zinc sulfate with imiquimod, podophyllin or cryotherapy in the treatment of vulvar warts.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Zinc sulfate is beneficial in the treatment of epithelial warts. We conducted this study to compare the efficacy of combination therapy of oral zinc sulfate with conventional treatments in the treatment of vulvar warts.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was a randomized controlled trial. The sample size was 42 in each group. Women aged 20-50 years were placed by the block randomized method into six groups: the podophyllin-, imiquimod- and cryotherapy-treated groups, and another three groups receiving 8-week combination therapy of 400 mg oral zinc sulfate with one of the above-mentioned treatments. Data were analyzed using anova and Fischer's exact test with spss16.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 228 patients were recruited and completed the study in six treatment groups. No significant difference was observed in the response to treatment among these groups. Relapse after 6 months was significantly higher in the podophyllin-, imiquimod- and cryotherapy-treated patients compared to patients receiving these treatments in combination with oral zinc sulfate (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Combined therapy of oral zinc sulfate with conventional treatments of vulvar warts appears to reduce the relapse rate.
authors.affiliation: Gynecology and Obstetrics Department, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Setareh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akhavan
authors.forename: Seyed Rahim
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Mohammadi
authors.forename: Mitra
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Modarres Gillani
authors.forename: Azam Sadat
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Mousavi
authors.forename: Mahboobeh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shirazi
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000634:Aminoquinolines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001252:Astringents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003218:Condylomata Acuminata / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000601:surgery; D003452:Cryosurgery / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077271:Imiquimod; D007369:Interferon Inducers / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007492:Iran; D007641:Keratolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D010352:Patient Dropouts; D011033:Podophyllin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D063465:Skin Cream; D014845:Vulvar Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000601:surgery; D055815:Young Adult; D019287:Zinc Sulfate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000634:Aminoquinolines; D001252:Astringents; D007369:Interferon Inducers; D007641:Keratolytic Agents; D019287:Zinc Sulfate; D011033:Podophyllin; D000077271:Imiquimod
keywords: clinical trial; genital wart; sexually transmitted disease