title: A Comparative Study of Potassium Hydroxide versus CO2 Laser Vaporization in The Treatment of Female Genital Warts: A Controlled Clinical Trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Genital warts are the most common viral sexually transmitted disease affecting 1% of the population. A prospective, open-label controlled trial was performed to compare topical 5% potassium hydroxide (KOH) solution with CO2 laser in the treatment of female genital warts.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy patients were enrolled in the study after convenience sampling. Right-sided lesions of the patients were treated by CO2 laser every 3 weeks. The left-sided lesions of the same patients were treated by topical 5% KOH solution twice a day using a toothpick with cotton wrap on the tip. The patients were visited at 3, 6, and 9 weeks after initiation of the treatment and followed up for 6 months after the last visit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of seventy patients, sixty three completed the study and were analyzed. A total of 56 KOH treated-patients (88.9%) showed complete response. On the other hand, 56 laser-treated patients (88.9%) presented complete clearing of the lesion. There was not any difference in response to both modalities of treatment. Complications of KOH solution and CO2 laser were 24% and 19% respectively (P>0.05), but serious adverse events were not observed. The patients under KOH treatment displayed a recurrence rate of 11.1% (7 cases), while the same patients with CO2 laser therapy demonstrated a recurrence rate of 7.9% (5 cases) (P=0.54).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Topical 5% KOH solution was as effective as CO2 laser in the treatment of female genital warts. There was not any serious complication in the application of KOH solution. This could be used as a new treatment for genital warts.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  IRCT201412207848N1.
authors.affiliation: Maternal-fetal Medicine Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Nasrin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Asadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Ensie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hemmati
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Golnaz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Namazi
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahnaz Pakniat
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Jahromi
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sarraf
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Nader
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pazyar
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Traditional Medicine and History of Medicine, Department of Epidemiology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salehi
keywords: CO2 laser; Genital warts; Potassium hydroxide; Therapeutics