Efficacy of Topical 5% 5-Fluorouracil and 0.05% Tretinoin and Electrosurgery in the Treatment of Plane Warts: A Randomized Controlled Comparative Trial

Introduction: Human papilloma virus (HPV) is capable of causing varieties of dermatological conditions differing in morphology, histopathology and site of occurrence. Plane wart is one of the morphological variants accounting for approximately one fifth of HPV lesions. Treatment of plane warts is difficult and recurrence quite common. Objectives: To compare the efficacy and safety of 5% 5 –fluorouracil (5 FU) and 0.05% tretinoin and electrosurgery in the treatment of plane wart. Materials and methods: Seventy-five patients, 38 males and 37 females were included in this randomized controlled comparative trial. Patients were age and sex matched and divided into three groups, GROUP A: Patients treated with 5% 5-FU, GROUP B: Patients treated with 0.05% tretinoin and GROUP C: Patients treated with electrosurgery. While topical treatments were applied once nightly for 4 weeks (5% 5-FU for four hours and tretinoin overnight), electrosurgery was done at first visit only. Result: While electrosurgery had shown faster results, results were more consistent with least recurrence in 5-FU and fair recurrence with 0.05% tretinoin. Conclusion: All three treatments i.e. 5 FU, topical tretinoin and electrosurgery showed excellent response in treatment of plane warts with minimal side effects.