Ionic Anti-Viral Intralesional Therapy in Plantar Warts

Abstract

Abstract Background Warts (verrucas) are an extremely common, benign, and usually self-limited skin disease. Their size ranges from a few millimetres to several centimetres. The normal skin lines are interrupted by skin coloured to brownish-grey proliferations, the diagnosis is established clinically; no supplementary histologic or virologic investigations are needed. Objective The aim of this two armed double blinded randomized clinical trial was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of intralesional combined digoxin and furosemide in the treatment of multiple planter warts. Methods This study included 40 patients with plantar warts, they were divided into 2 groups, 20 patients per group, the first group received intralesional normal saline, one injection session every week for maximum 5 injection sessions. The second group received intralesional combined digoxin and furosemide, one injection session every week for maximum 5 injection sessions. All the patients were recruited from the Dermatology outpatient clinic at Ain-Shams University Hospital and Shobra General Hospital during the period From July 2018 to July 2019. Results There was no statistically significant difference between the 2 studied groups as regard size of wart before treatment. While there was statistically significant difference between the 2 studied groups as regard size of wart after the 5th session. Also there was a steady increase in the response to treatment in group 2 showing an earlier response to treatment and most of patients with excellent and very good response to treatment after the 5th session. There was no statistically significant difference between the 2 studied groups as regard the number of warts before treatment. While there was statistically significant difference between the 2 studied groups as regard the number of warts after the 5th session. There was no statistically significant correlation between age, sex, disease duration and response to treatment (as regard reduction in number of warts) after the 5th session in group 2. While in group 1 there was no reduction in number of warts after the 5th session. There was a statistically significant difference between the number of warts before and after receiving the active treatment in group 1, in group 2 and for both groups together (all patients). Conclusion We concluded from this study that intralesional injection of combined digoxin and furosemide offers effective alternative form of treatment for plantar warts in adults. It is inexpensive and safe to treat plantar warts.