Pulsed dye laser treatment of warts: an update.

BACKGROUND

Warts are a therapeutic challenge. New studies indicate that pulsed dye laser therapy may be effective, with clearance rates of 72 to 93%.

OBJECTIVE

To determine clearance rate in pulsed dye laser treatment of warts and compare our rate to those of other published studies.

METHODS

Thirty-three patients with 96 warts received pulsed dye laser treatment for recalcitrant plantar, digital, peri- and subungual, and body warts.

RESULTS

Forty-eight percent of patients had complete wart clearance; 45% partially cleared. Sixty-nine percent of those who cleared remained wart-free for an average of 11 months. Mean fluence was 9.4 J/cm2, with an average of 3.4 treatments. Body and palmar warts responded best, digital and peri- and subungual next, and plantar lesions worst. No significant side effects were observed.

CONCLUSION

Pulsed dye laser is an effective treatment option for recalcitrant warts with an excellent side effect profile. However, our response rates were not as high as those previously reported, and we feel that further studies would be useful.