Pulsed dye laser efficacy as initial therapy for warts and against recalcitrant verrucae.

Pulsed dye (vascular) laser therapy is effective against verrucae (warts) that have not responded to other treatments. These observations suggest that vascular laser therapy might be particularly efficacious against verrucae not previously treated. Of the thirty-two patients with verrucae in this study, nineteen had been previously treated (recalcitrant group) and thirteen had not (no prior treatment group). All warts were treated an average of 1.72 times with the Candela vascular laser at 585 nm, 8 J/cm2. Patients were treated at one- to two-month intervals. Response rates were as follows: 68 percent of the recalcitrant warts were completely cleared, and 47.1 percent of the warts with no prior treatment were completely cleared. In the recalcitrant group, 45.9 percent were treated three times, the maximum number of treatments offered. In the no prior treatment group, only 5.9 percent of warts were treated at all three laser clinics offered. Vascular laser therapy appears to be effective as therapy in the treatment of verrucae, especially those that have not been eradicated by other treatments. Patients who had received no prior treatment for their warts were less likely to proceed with therapy, but had a satisfactory clearance rate with minimal treatment.