RELATIVE EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF HOMOLOGOUS AUTOIMPLANTATION AND INTRALESIONAL MMR IN MULTIPLE AND RECALCITRANT VERRUCAE VULGARIS

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Verrucae are the viral infection of skin and mucosae caused by Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). Destructive modalities, mainstay of treatment have their own shortcomings like pain, infection, scarring and recurrence. To overcome these, immunotherapy is the emerging modality. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 40 patients with multiple ( >5) and recalcitrant warts were enrolled and divided randomly into two groups (Group A and Group B): In Group A, autoimplantation was done in 20 patients whereas in Group B, 20 patients were injected 0.3ml MMR vaccine into the largest wart at 2 weeks interval until complete clearance or for maximum of 3 injections whichever was earlier. Patients were followed up at 4 week intervals for 12 weeks. RESULTS: In Group A, 13 (65%) patients showed Grade 4, 1 (5%) patients had Grade 3 , 5 (25%) patients had Grade2 and only 1 (5%) patient had Grade 1 improvement. In Group B on the other hand, 15 (75%) patients showed Grade 4, 3 (15%) patients had G3, 2 (10%) patients had Grade 2 and 0 (8%) patients had Grade 1 improvement. CONCLUSION: Both the immunotherapeutic treatments are safe, economic and less traumatic to the patients as compared to the destructive procedures for the treatment of warts.