In the principal analysis both
podophyllotoxin solution (OR 2.93, 95% CI 1.56 to 5.50) and
podophyllotoxin cream (OR 1.97, 95% CI 1.04 to 3.70) were associated with significantly increased odds of remission of all
warts compared to
podophyllin. We performed two further analyses. When subjects defaulting from follow up were assumed to have been cured odds of remission of all
warts were also significantly increased both for
podophyllotoxin solution (OR 3.04, 95% CI 1.68 to 5.49) and for
podophyllotoxin cream (OR 2.46, 95% CI 1.38 to 4.40). When subjects defaulting from follow up were assumed not to have been cured odds of remission of all
warts were significantly increased for
podophyllotoxin solution (OR 1.92, 95% CI 1.13 to 3.27), but not for
podophyllotoxin cream (OR 1.17, 95% CI 0.69 to 2.00). Local side effects were seen in 24% of subjects, and recurrence of
warts within 12 weeks of study entry in 43% of all initially cleared subjects, without statistically significant differences between the treatment groups. Direct, indirect, and total costs were similar across the three treatment groups.
Podophyllotoxin solution was the most cost effective treatment, followed by
podophyllotoxin cream, with
podophyllin treatment being the least cost effective.
CONCLUSIONS: