Comparative Study of Intralesional Vitamin D3 Injection and Candida Albicans Antigen in Treating Plantar Warts.

BACKGROUND

Warts, or verrucae, are mucosal human papilloma virus (HPV) infections that are very challenging to treat.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the safety and efficacy of intralesional injection of vitamin D3 versus intralesional injection of candida albicans antigen for plantar warts.

METHODS

Forty patients were included in the study and were divided into two groups (A&B) with 20 patients each. Group A received intralesional vitamin D3 while Group B received intralesional Candida antigen. Injection was done every 3 weeks until clearance of warts or a maximum of three treatments.

RESULTS

Nine patients showed complete clearance in group A (45%), while 6 patients (30%) showed partial response and no response in 5 patients (25%) of group (A). As for group (B), complete clearance of the treated warts was observed in 8 patients (40%), partial response in 6 patients (30%) while no response was observed in 6 patients (30%). No superiority of one treatment to the other was observed nor was any statistical significance in both groups’ responses noted.

CONCLUSION

Treatment of multiple warts by intralesional injection of candida antigen or vitamin D3 is safe and effective, with good cure rates, has an excellent safety profile, with minimal recurrences and statistically equivalent. J Drugs Dermatol. 2021;20(5):546-549. doi:10.36849/JDD.5264.