Cryotherapy alone versus cryotherapy followed by intralesional vitamin D3 in treatment of anogenital warts: a randomized comparative clinical study

Abstract

Background Anogenital warts (AGW) have an important impact on quality of life since they cause discomfort and shame. AGW cannot be effectively treated with a single technique. Objective To compare effectiveness and safety of intralesional vitamin D3 injection and cryotherapy in the treatment of AGW. Patients and methods A randomized comparative clinical study included patients with AGW attending to dermatology, Venerology and andrology clinics, Suez Canal University hospitals, Ismailia, Egypt. 36 patients were divided randomly into 2 groups, group A, included 18 patients who were treated with cryotherapy alone and group B that included 18 patients who were treated with cryotherapy then 0.25–1 ml of intralesional vitamin D3 injection in the same session. Results Complete response was obtained in 55.6% versus 94.4% of patients and clinical recurrence occurred in 27.9% versus 5.6% of patients in group A and B respectively (P<0.05). There was significant improvement in number and size of warts in group B more than group A (P<0.05). Conclusion The clinical response of combination of intralesional vitamin D3 as an immune therapy and cryotherapy as an ablative therapy for treatment of AGW is significantly higher than cryotherapy alone with lower recurrence rates and tolerable side effects.