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Intralesional Versus Intramuscular Hepatitis B Virus Vaccine in the Treatment of Multiple Common Warts
Ahmad Nofal1,2, Aya Elaraby1, Basma M Elkholy1
1Dermatology, Venereology and Andrology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt.
Background:
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination is associated with stimulation of humoral and cell-mediated immunity. Intralesional HBV vaccine has been recently used as an immunotherapy of common warts with relatively low success rate.
Aim:
To assess the efficacy and safety of intralesional versus intramuscular (IM) HBV vaccine in the treatment of multiple common warts.
Patients And Methods:
The study included 60 patients with multiple common warts who were randomly assigned to 2 groups: intralesional HBV vaccine or IM HBV vaccine. In the intralesional HBV vaccine group, the vaccine was injected into the largest wart at 2-week intervals until complete clearance or for a maximum of 5 sessions. Intramuscular HBV vaccine group received 3 injections in the deltoid muscle at 0, 1, and 6 months.
Results:
Complete wart clearance was reported in 7 patients (23.3%) of the intralesional HBV vaccine group and 15 patients (50%) of the IM HBV vaccine group. The difference was statistically significant in favor of the IM group ( p = .0479). Adverse effects were mild and insignificant in the 2 groups.
Conclusion:
HBV vaccine, particularly the IM form seems to be a promising, well-tolerated therapeutic option for the treatment of warts.
Limitations:
Short follow-up period and small sample size.
