Bacillus Calmette-Guerin Immunotherapy for Recurrent Multiple Warts: An Open-Label Uncontrolled Study

Cutaneous warts present a therapeutic challenge because of recurrence and multiplicity and may become a frustrating condition for both patients and physicians. In the past few years, there has been an increase in intralesional immunotherapy for recurrent multiple warts not only because of its encouraging results in the treatment but also due to its ability to clear distant warts and preventing recurrence.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of intralesional bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine immunotherapy in the treatment of recurrent multiple warts.

This study included 40 adult patients with multiple recurrent extragenital warts of different sizes, numbers, and duration, with or without distant warts. Patients were injected intralesionally with 0.1 ml BCG vaccine into the largest wart at a 3-week interval, directly without a pre-sensitization skin test, until complete clearance or for a maximum of three sessions. Follow-up was done every month for 3 months to detect any recurrence.

Out of the 40 patients enrolled in the study, 34 patients completed the treatment protocol of three injections and 3 months of follow-up and six patients discontinued for various reasons. Complete clearance of the lesions was achieved in 25 (73.53%) patients, partial clearance in 8 (23.53%) patients, and no response in 1 (2.94%) patient. Complete response was demonstrated in 75% of those presenting with distant warts. Therapy-related side effects were mild in the form of pain during injection, itching, erythema at the site of injection, and flu-like symptoms. None of the patients with complete response showed recurrence of lesions in a 3-month follow-up period.

Intralesional BCG immunotherapy is a safe, effective, and promising treatment modality for recurrent multiple warts.