Closing remarks

Drawing the meeting to a close, co-chairman Dr. Selim Aractingi said that it is now clear that local immune factors are important in determining the regression of warts, and that imiquimod appears to mimic the mechanism of immunity occuring in people in whom warts regress without treatment. He summarised the main presentation points, stating that topical imiquimod 5% - when applied three times each week overnight at home - is an effective therapy with acceptable side effects. Dr. Aractingi noted that the recurrence rate is lower than those reported with most other available wart therapies. Further studies to specifically compare recurrence rates are warranted, he concluded.