Topical self-treatment of penile warts with 0.5% podophyllotoxin in ethanol for four or five days

Penile condylomata were eradicated from 26 (70%) of 37 and from 15 (63%) of 24 uncircumsized men with penile warts who performed one course of self-treatment with 0.5% podophyllotoxin in ethanol, which was applied twice daily for four and five days, respectively. In comparison with previous data on the efficacy for use of the same regimen for only three days, no major advantages were observed; instead, the frequency of local adverse effects was increased. However, because warts growing in a plaque-like fashion reacted favorably to the therapy, such lesions may be treated for four to five days if they are recalcitrant to the three-day regimen. The efficacy of application of 0.5% podophyllotoxin in ethanol only once daily was significantly lower than that resulting from application twice daily.