Comparative study on the sustained efficacy of diphencyprone immunotherapy versus cryotherapy in viral warts

Abstract:  This study compared the sustained clearance rate of viral warts treated with topical diphencyprone (DCP) therapy (group A) versus cryotherapy (group B). After 12 months follow-up, 93.3% (42/45) of group A and 76.3% (29/38) of group B presented sustained clinical clearance. Our data suggest that topical DCP therapy may lead to the induction of the long-term immunity to human papillomavirus (HPV).     

Liquid nitrogen cryotherapy of common warts: cryo-spray vs. cotton wool bud

BACKGROUND: Viral warts represent a large workload for dermatology departments. Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen is the most widely used method of treatment by dermatologists and is increasingly used by general practitioners in the U.K. Existing data relating to the response to cryotherapy are virtually all derived from the use of a cotton wool bud as the applicator. There is an increasing trend to use the cryo-spray to freeze warts and it has been assumed that this is equally effective. In view of the workload involved it is important to test this assumption. OBJECTIVES: This prospective study was undertaken to compare these two methods of liquid nitrogen cryotherapy with regards to cure rate after 3 months of treatment. METHODS: Patients referred to two hospital dermatology departments with hand or foot warts were allocated to have liquid nitrogen applied with either a cryo-spray or with a cotton wool bud. Using either technique, liquid nitrogen was applied until ice-ball formation had spread from the centre to include a margin of 2 mm around each wart. Treatment was done fortnightly for up to 3 months. Plantar warts were pared and treated with a double freeze-thaw cycle. The endpoint of the study was complete clearance of all warts. RESULTS: Three hundred and sixty-three patients were enrolled, mean age 21 years (range 3-75), 188 male and 175 female. The mean duration of the warts was 98 weeks (median 78, range 2-936). The number of warts on the hands and feet varied from one to 80 (mean 5). The treatment groups were comparable with regards to baseline demographics. Two hundred and seven patients were evaluable. Cure rates at 3 months were 47% in the cotton wool bud group and 44% in the cryo-spray group (P = 0.8). Warts that had been present for 6 months or less (n = 31) had a greater chance of clearance (84%) compared with warts that had been present for more than 6 months (39%, n = 176) (P < 0.0005). CONCLUSIONS: Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen for hand and foot warts in our study was equally effective when applied with a cotton wool bud or by means of a spray.     

Comparative study of the efficacy of combined cryotherapy and intralesional meglumine antimoniate (Glucantime) vs. cryotherapy and intralesional meglumine antimoniate (Glucantime) alone for the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a parasitic disease caused by Leishmania species. There is a need for more effective and less time-consuming therapeutic methods for this condition. AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of combined cryotherapy and intralesional meglumine antimoniate (MA) (Glucantime, Specia, Paris, France) for the treatment of CL. METHODS: Patients were divided into three groups: Group 1, 100 patients with 149 lesions were treated with cryotherapy plus intralesional MA; Group 2, 200 patients with 230 lesions were treated with cryotherapy; Group 3, 100 patients with 160 lesions were treated with intralesional MA. These groups were followed for 6 months after the end of treatment. RESULTS: The results showed complete cure in 90.9% of cases in Group 1, 57.15% of cases in Group 2, and 55.63% of cases in Group 3. The difference between Group 1 and the other groups was statistically significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Combined cryotherapy and intralesional MA is more effective than either cryotherapy or intralesional MA alone for the treatment of CL.     

Subcutaneous interferon alpha 2a combined with cryotherapy vs cryotherapy alone in the treatment of primary anogenital warts: a randomised observer blind placebo controlled study.

OBJECTIVE--To compare patient tolerance and treatment efficacy of subcutaneous interferon (IFN) alpha 2a plus cryotherapy versus cryotherapy alone in treatment of primary anogenital (AG) warts. DESIGN--Randomised placebo controlled observer blind study. Statistical analysis was by chi square and Mann Whitney U tests. PATIENTS--60 patients with newly diagnosed AG warts. INTERVENTION--29 and 31 patients were treated with subcutaneous IFN alpha 2a plus cryotherapy or placebo injections plus cryotherapy, respectively. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Clinical presence or absence of AG warts. Patients wart-free at 8 weeks were asked to re-attend at 12 weeks; those with persistent warts at 8 weeks were withdrawn from the study. RESULTS--At 8 weeks 60.7% (17/28 patients) of the IFN group and 67.9% (19/28 patients) of the placebo group were clinically wart-free (not significant); corresponding figures at 12 week review were 29.6% (8/27 patients) and 40% (10/25 patients) respectively (not significant). There was no difference in treatment response between males and females. Recurrence of warts at three month review, in patients cleared of warts at 8 weeks, was seen in 50% (8/16) and 37.5% (6/16) of patients in the IFN and placebo groups respectively (not significant). Multiple warts and the presence of perianal/anal canal warts, either alone or concurrent with warts on the genitalia, at first clinic attendance, were adverse prognostic indicators (p less than 0.001, and p = 0.05 respectively). Cervical human papilloma virus (HPV) infection, exophytic or subclinical, was present in 58.3% and 77.2% of females in the IFN and placebo groups respectively, at trial entry. Although these lesions were not directly treated, colposcopic resolution was seen in 12.5% of affected women, in both treatment groups, by the end of the 7 week treatment period. Systemic side effects were significantly more common in the IFN than in the placebo group, 50% versus 10.7% of patients (p less than 0.01). Severe influenza like symptoms occurred, after the first three injections only, in one patient treated with IFN; all other reported side effects were mild. CONCLUSIONS--Subcutaneous IFN alpha 2a combined with cryotherapy is no more effective than cryotherapy alone in the treatment of primary AG warts. The presence of multiple warts and perianal/anal canal warts are adverse prognostic indicators.     

Value of a second freeze-thaw cycle in cryotherapy of common warts

A study of open, randomized, parallel-group design was performed to investigate the impact of a second freeze-thaw cycle on the cure rate, at 3 months, from cryotherapy of common warts on the hands and feet. Cryotherapy was performed at 3-week intervals, and subjects were randomized to receive either one or two freeze-thaw cycles. In addition, all subjects used keratolytic wart paints throughout the study, and plantar warts were pared prior to freezing. Three hundred subjects were recruited. At 3 months, 124 were cured, 83 were not cured, and 93 had defaulted. Among those who did not default the cure rate was 57% from the single freeze technique, and 62% from the double freeze technique, a difference of 5% (P=0.53, 95% CI ?8.1?18.6). Separate analyses for subjects with warts on the hands and on the feet demonstrated no effect of double freezing on hand warts. In contrast, for plantar warts, the cure rate was 41% from single freezing and 65% for double freezing, a difference of 24% (P=0.04, 95% CI 2.9?44.4). The use of a double freeze-thaw cycle confers little or no advantage over a single freeze in the treatment of hand warts, but may be considerably more effective for plantar warts.     

Comparison of efficacy of azithromycin vs. doxycycline in the treatment of acne vulgaris

Acne vulgaris is a common inflammatory disorder of the skin. Oral antibiotics are known to be effective in its treatment. A randomized, investigator-blinded study was performed to compare the efficacy of azithromycin with doxycycline. Fifty-one patients were randomized to receive either azithromycin 500 mg/day on 3 consecutive days per week in the first, on 2 consecutive days per week in the second, and on 1 day per week in the third month. The other group was given doxycycline twice a day for the first month and once a day for the second and third months. Clinical assessment was made at baseline, at the end of first, second, third, and post-treatment first and second months. Side effects were recorded. Statistically significant improvement for the facial lesions were obtained with both drugs. Neither drug was shown to be more effective than the other. The beneficial effect continued until 2 months after treatment. In the azithromycin group three patients had diarrohea, while photosensitivity was seen in two patients using doxycycline. This study indicates that azithromycin is at least as effective as doxycycline in the treatment of acne.     

A randomized clinical comparative study of cryotherapy plus photodynamic therapy vs. cryotherapy in the treatment of multiple condylomata acuminata

Background: Cryotherapy cannot destroy subclinical human papillomavirus‐infected cells of condylomata acuminata (CA). The topical application of aminolevulinic acid (ALA) results in a shallow penetration depth in CA lesions ( 1 ). Objectives: To compare the efficacy and safety of cryotherapy plus ALA‐photodynamic therapy (PDT) with cryotherapy in the treatment of multiple CA. Methods: Eighty patients with multiple CA received cryotherapy plus ALA‐PDT (n=40) or cryotherapy plus placebo‐PDT (n=40). After cryotherapy, a 20% ALA or a placebo solution was applied to the CA area 3 h before illumination with red light (635 nm, 100 mW/cm², 100 J/cm²). The treatment was repeated 7 days after the first treatment if the lesions were not completely resolved. The complete response rate, recurrence rate and adverse effects in the two groups were analyzed. Results: After two treatments, the complete response rates in the combined group (cryotherapy plus ALA‐PDT) and cryotherapy group were 32.4% (36/111) and 32.6% (43/132) in the anal area (P>0.05), 100% (32/32) and 54.5% (18/33) in the urethral meatus (P<0.05), and 94.2% (129/137) and 50.5% (56/111) in the external genitals (P<0.05), respectively. The recurrence rates in the combined group and cryotherapy group were 24.3% (27/111) and 31.1% (41/132) in the anal area (P>0.05), 9.4% (3/32) and 39.4% (13/33) in the urethral meatus (P<0.05), and 3.6% (5/137) and 31.5% (35/111) in the external genitals (P<0.05), respectively. The adverse effects in each group included mild to moderate pain, edema, erosion and hypopigmentation, without any infection, ulcers, scarring or urethral malformations. Conclusion: Cryotherapy plus ALA‐PDT is a more effective regimen for the treatment of multiple CA compared with cryotherapy alone.     

Comparison of cryotherapy session intervals in the treatment of external genital warts

A review of the literature found that the cryotherapy method used to treat external genital warts (EGWs) has been applied with varying intervals between sessions. However, no study has compared the intervals between sessions. The files of 312 patients who were diagnosed with genital warts and underwent cryotherapy were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were divided into two groups: 7–8 days between cryotherapy treatments and 14–21 days between cryotherapy treatments. The number of sessions and recurrence status were recorded for each patient. Cryotherapy methods applied with short intervals, such as 7–8 days, are more effective, requiring fewer sessions and less time when compared with longer intervals (p < 0.0001).     

Smoke from leaves of Populus euphratica Olivier vs. conventional cryotherapy for the treatment of cutaneous warts: a pilot, randomized, single-blind, prospective study

Background Populous Euphratica tree which belongs to Salicaceae family is naturally distributed in many parts of the world. Our purpose was to compare the therapeutic effects of smoke of its burnt leaves with conventional cryotherapy in patients with warts. Methods Sixty consecutive wart patients were randomly treated with leaves of Populous Euphratica tree (Group A) or conventional cryotherapy (Group B) and were followed up for 22 weeks. Results The respective end results in group A and group B were; Complete cure rates 66.7% vs. 46.4% (P= NS), partial resolution rates 8.3% vs. 14.3% (P= NS). The recurrence rate however, was 4.2% in group A and 32.2% in group B patients (P= 0.024). Conclusion The smoke of burnt leaves of Populus Euphratica tree can be equally effective for treatment of hand and foot warts as cryotherapy.     

Cold urticaria as a complication of cryotherapy in the treatment of viral warts

Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen has been established as the first-line treatment for pediatric patients with viral warts. Cold-induced urticaria (CU) is a rare skin reaction triggered by cold stimuli. We present the case of a pediatric patient with viral warts who developed CU after receiving cryotherapy.