Cryotherapy is a standard treatment for warts. Tuberculin immunotherapy is a novel therapeutic option. We compared the efficacy and safety of cryotherapy versus tuberculin immunotherapy in a randomized, assessor-blinded study. 15 patients were treated with intralesional tuberculin and 15 patients received cryotherapy every 2 weeks until complete wart resolution or a maximum of six sessions. Wart diameter, total number of warts and adverse effects were documented. Complete clearance of treated warts was achieved in 13(86.7%) and 11(73.3%) of patients with immunotherapy and cryotherapy respectively. Immunotherapy showed greater wart size reduction (51.88 ± 89.36 mm) than cryotherapy (32.99 ± 36.19 mm), (p = 0.46). Immunotherapy resulted in 64% reduction in total number of warts compared to 23.2% with cryotherapy, p < 0.01. More blisters developed with cryotherapy (46.7%) than immunotherapy (6.7%), (p = 0.01). Compartment syndrome-like features complicate immunotherapy in 1 patient. Tuberculin immunotherapy and cryotherapy are equally effective in treating warts. Immunotherapy has added benefit with resolution of distant warts. Safety profiles were similar except for blisters which were more common with cryotherapy.
Keywords: cryotherapy; immunotherapy; tuberculin; warts.
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