title: Safety and effectiveness of cantharidin-podophylotoxin-salicylic acid in the treatment of recalcitrant plantar warts.
abstract: The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of topical cantharidin-podophylotoxin-salicylic acid (CPS) treatment of recalcitrant plantar warts (RPW). This study was carried out in a health center in the city of A Coruña (Spain) between January and December 2013. A total of 75 patients completed all the stages of the research process. Information related to treatment with CPS and adverse effects was abstracted from medical records. Of 93 potential patients identified, 75 had at least one follow-up visit or telephone call after treatment and were included in this study. Patients experienced an average of 5.4 visits until complete resolution of their plantar wart occurred, although CPS was not applied at every visit. Fifty-four patients required one application to eliminate the wart and 21 patients required two applications/patient. Seventy-seven percent of patients experienced blistering - an expected therapeutic side effect. All patients experienced some form of an adverse event, the most common being pain (81.3%) and significant blistering (15%). Other side effects were rare (18.7%) and included pruritus, possible mild infection, significant irritation, and bleeding. All patients reported treatment, supporting our results that CPS is a safe and efficacious treatment modality for RPW and should be considered when symptomatic infection necessitates treatment.
authors.affiliation: Research, Health and Podiatry Unit, Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Nursing and Podiatry, Universidade da Coruña, Spain.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: López López
authors.affiliation: Modeling, Optimization and Statistical Inference Research Group, Universidade da Coruña, Spain.
authors.forename: Juan Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Vilar Fernández
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Spain.
authors.forename: Marta Elena
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7588-2069
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Losa Iglesias
authors.affiliation: Research, Health and Podiatry Unit, Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Nursing and Podiatry, Universidade da Coruña, Spain.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Álvarez Castro
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health, Exercise and Sport, European University of Madrid, Villaviciosa de Odón, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Romero Morales
authors.affiliation: Research, Health and Podiatry Unit, Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Nursing and Podiatry, Universidade da Coruña, Spain.
authors.forename: María Matilde
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: García Sánchez
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Podiatry, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Becerro de Bengoa Vallejo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002193:Cantharidin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011034:Podophyllotoxin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D020156:Salicylic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D014860:Warts / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D002193:Cantharidin; D011034:Podophyllotoxin; D020156:Salicylic Acid
keywords: cantharidin; foot disease; warts