A Comparative Study of the Efficacy of Intralesional Measles Mumps Rubella (MMR) Vaccine and Auto Implantation for the Treatment of Periungual and Palmoplantar Warts: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Abstract Background: Warts are benign epidermal proliferations, caused by infection of keratinocytes with human papillomavirus (HPV). Auto implantation and intralesional mumps, measles, and rubella (MMR) vaccine are novel methods of immunotherapy for treating periungual and palmoplantar warts. They act by stimulating the patient’s immune system; this clears not only the local warts but also distant warts with lesser side effects. Objective: We conducted this study to compare the efficacy and safety of both methods in treating periungual and palmoplantar warts. Materials and Methods: A total of 160 patients were randomly allocated into two groups of 80 patients. Group A was treated with 0.3 mL of intralesional MMR vaccine at an interval of 3 weeks or for a maximum of three sittings, and Group B was treated with auto implantation. Results: At the end of therapy, the result was better in group A (MMR vaccine) as 86% of cases yielded an excellent response as compared to 71% in group B (auto implantation). The recurrence rate was 5% in group A and 4% in group B. There were no serious side effects in both groups with pain during injection (70%) in group A and swelling at the recipient site (8%) in group B being the most common side effect. Conclusion: Both MMR and auto implantation had significant response rates. But MMR was faster and better.