Tuberculin purified protein derivative and cryotherapy in the treatment of genital warts: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background: Therapeutic modalities for genital warts are mostly ablative in nature, limited by high recurrence rates and are unsuitable for numerous lesions. Immunotherapy has the potential to overcome these limitations.Aim: The aim of this work was to compare the results of combined tuberculin purified protein derivative and cryotherapy to the results of tuberculin purified protein derivative or cryotherapy alone in the treatment of genital warts.Patients and Methods: A randomized controlled study included 45 patients equally allocated into three groups using a computerized random number: Group A (15) patients were treated with purified protein derivative injection. Group B (15) patients were treated with cryotherapy using liquid nitrogen. Group C (15) patients were treated with combined purified protein derivative and cryotherapy.Results: In group A, 2 patients (13.3%) had complete response to purified protein derivative therapy, 8 patients (53.3%) had partial response, and 5 patients (33.3%) no response to treatment. While in group B, 4 patients (26.7%) had complete response to cryotherapy, 6 patients (40%) partial response, and 5 patients (33.3%) no response to treatment,in group C 7 patients (46.7%) complete response 6 patients (40%) partial response, and 2 patients (13.3%) no response, with no statistical significant difference.Conclusion: Intralesional immunotherapy with purified protein derivative effectively cures warts that are present locally and also at distant sites. It is safe, economic, and efficacious. Combined purified protein derivative and cryotherapy was found to be the most effective treatment modality for genital warts.