Effect of measles mumps rubella vaccine in treatment of common warts

Abstract

Background: There are many destructive and immunotherapeutic options available for the treatment of common warts, but no treatment is 100% effective and usually cause pain and scarring. Recently, intralesional immunotherapy with skin test antigens and vaccines has been shown to be effective in the management of warts. We evaluated the efficacy of Measles Mumps Rubella (MMR) vaccine injection in the treatment of cutaneous warts. Aim: To study the efficacy of intralesional MMR vaccine in the treatment of common warts. Materials and Methods: A case–control study was conducted in AVBR Hospital, Sawangi (Meghe), Wardha, in 2015–2016. Forty clinically diagnosed cases of cutaneous common wart were selected in the study and were put randomly into two groups (20 in each group). Group 1: included twenty patients subjected to intralesional injection of 0.5 ml MMR vaccine. Group 2: included twenty patients as a control group and subjected to intralesional injection of 0.5 ml saline. These injections were repeated every 3 weeks intervals for maximum three injections. Follow-up of patients was done every 6 months for clinical assessment of results and to study recurrence. Results: A significant difference was found between the therapeutic responses of common warts to MMR. Vaccine and normal saline (control) group. At the end of 9 weeks (third visit), about 65% patients treated with MMR vaccine showed complete clearance compared with 5% of the control group. Grade 3 response was 20% versus 10% respectively; whereas Grade 2 response was observed in 10% versus 25%, respectively, and as regards no response, it was 5% versus 60% in MMR vaccine and control group, respectively. Conclusion: We found that the treatment of common warts by MMR vaccine is effective, with good cure rates, and excellent safety profile.