Intralesional immunotherapy of common warts: successful treatment with mumps, measles and rubella vaccine.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Despite numerous therapeutic modalities reported in the literature, treatment of common warts remains a continuing challenge and there is no universal consensus about optimal treatment. Recently, intralesional immunotherapy by different antigens has proved efficacy in the treatment of different types of warts.

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intralesional mumps, measles and rubella (MMR) vaccine in the treatment of common warts.

METHODS:

The study included 135 patients with single or multiple recalcitrant or non-recalcitrant common warts. They were randomly assigned to two groups; the first group (85 patients) received intralesional MMR vaccine, and the second group (50 patients) received intralesional saline as a control group. Both treatments were injected into single lesions or largest wart in case of multiple lesions at 2-week intervals until complete clearance or for a maximum of five treatments. Follow-up was made every 2 months for 6 months to detect any recurrence.

RESULTS:

A highly significant difference was found between the therapeutic response of common warts to MMR vaccine and saline control group (P < 0.001). In the MMR group, complete response was achieved in 80% and 84.6% of patients presenting with recalcitrant and multiple warts respectively. No recurrence was observed in the MMR group and side effects included pain during injection and flu-like symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS:

Intralesional immunotherapy by MMR vaccine is a promising effective and safe treatment modality for common warts, particularly the multiple ones.

• Authors: A Nofal, E Nofal
• Journal: Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology : JEADV (J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol) Vol. 24 Issue 10 Pg. 1166-70 (Oct 2010) ISSN: 1468-3083 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 20202055 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)
• Copyright: © 2010 The Authors. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology © 2010 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.

Chemical References

• Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Immunotherapy
• Male
• Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Middle Aged
• Recurrence
• Treatment Outcome
• Warts (therapy)
• Young Adult