Cidofovir Intralesional Injection for RecalcitrantCommon Warts: A Comparison with Sodium TetradecylSulfate Intralesional Injection

ABSTRACT

Background@#A novel treatment method is required for recalcitrantcommon warts. @*Objective@#This study aimed tocompare the complete wart removal rate of cidofovir, abroad-spectrum antiviral agent, intralesional injection andsodium tetradecyl sulfate intralesional injection. @*Methods@#This retrospective study included 45 patients with recalcitrantcommon warts on the hands and/or feet, treated with cidofoviror sodium tetradecyl sulfate intralesional injection. @*Results@#The treatment results were evaluated in three groupsas follows (1) failure - recalcitrant common warts remainingdespite three or more injections, (2) success - free from wartsfor more than 6 months after the injection, and (3) recurrence.The cidofovir group (n=22) showed significantly highertreatment success rates than the sodium tetradecyl sulfategroup (n=23) (90.91% vs. 26.09%, p＜0.001). Two immunosuppressedpatients in the cidofovir group had recurrentlesions after 2 months of being declared free from warts.Considering adverse effects, two patients in the cidofovirgroup complained of bulla formation with severe pain requiringnarcotic painkillers. @*Conclusion@#Although this studyhas the limitations of a small sample size and retrospectivedesign, patients with recalcitrant common warts showed adramatic response to the treatment with cidofovir intralesional injection, with minimal complications.