title: Intralesional Mycobacterium w Vaccine Versus Cryotherapy in Treatment of Refractory Extragenital Warts: A Randomized, Open-Label, Comparative Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Initial reports of immunotherapy using intralesional Mycobacterium w (Mw) vaccine have documented its useful role in treatment of genital and extragenital warts.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the efficacy and safety of intralesional Mw vaccine versus cryotherapy in the treatment of refractory extragenital warts.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective, randomized, comparative study of 66 patients. The outcome was assessed in terms of complete clearance of warts and change in Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) score.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Complete clearance of treated warts was seen in 66.7% (20/30) and 65.5% (19/29) of patients in the Mw and cryotherapy groups, respectively (P = .769). Clearance of distant warts was significantly (P = .004) high in the Mw group. Improvement in DLQI was greater in the Mw group. Both treatment modalities were well tolerated, and no major side effects occurred.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mw vaccine and cryotherapy are equally efficacious in treatment of refractory extragenital warts. Mw vaccine has an added advantage of clearance of distant warts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: Ashok K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Dhakar
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India sundogra@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Sunil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dogra
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: Keshavamurthy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vinay
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: Rishu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sarangal
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: Amrinder J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Kanwar
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: Mini P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017679:Cryotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005533:Foot Dermatoses / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D006229:Hand Dermatoses / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D015552:Injections, Intralesional; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000276:immunology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014860:Warts / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; C080550:Mycobacterium w vaccine
keywords: Mw vaccine; cryotherapy; human papilloma virus; immunotherapy; warts