BACKGROUND: Verrucae or warts, are benign epithelial growths caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection of the skin. They are unsightly and may affect a patient's quality of life, causing social embarrassment, discomfort, pain, and interference in certain activities.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of imiquimod 5 percent cream for sixteen weeks in the treatment of verruca vulgaris and verruca plana in an open-label trial involving healthy immunocompetent Filipino patients of the Dermatology out-patient clinic of the Philippine General Hospital.
METHODS: Imiquimod 5 percent cream was self-administered by patients with verruca vulgaris or verruca plana on their lesions, nightly for 16 weeks. Follow-up was done every two weeks to determine any change in size over time. Side effects were recorded.
RESULTS: Complete clearance was seen in 31.8% of verruca vulgaris cases, with improvement seen in 59 percent of cases. Shorter duration of lesions was associated with clearance. Complete clearance was seen in only 1 out of 8 patients with verruca plana treated. Minor side effects were reported.
CONCLUSION: Topical imiquimod 5 percent cream is a safe, well-tolerated, painless, convenient, patient-applied route which may be a preferred alternative treatment for verruca vulgaris.