Evaluation of common topical therapeutic agents of plane warts

Management of plane warts is difficult; techniques like cryotherapy and cauterization are linked with a significant number of recurrences, risk of scarring, pain, and costs. To evaluate the effectiveness of TCA 30% solution in comparison with tretinoin 0.05% cream and5-flurouracil (5-FU) 5% cream in treatment of plane wart. A total of 100 patients were haphazardly divided into three groups according to the treatment: 34 patients treated with TCA 30%, 34 patients treated with tretinoin 0.05%, and 32 patients treated with 5-FU 5%. The number of lesions was calculated in all patients before treatment initiation. The efficiency of drugs was evaluated at 6 and 12 weeks after treatment during which the number of the warts in each patient and any side effects associated with the study concoction were recorded. According to the reduction in number of warts, response was categorized in to complete, partial and no response. After 6 weeks' treatment with TCA, Tretinoin and 5-FU, the lesion number reduced to 24%, 70.1% and 68.11% respectively with significant differences between TCA and other two groups. Similarly, after 12 weeks, the lesion number reduced to 14%, 51.67% and 26.86%, respectively with significant differences between TCA and other 2 groups. Additionally, hyper/hypopigmentation was more frequent in TCA treated group than tretinoin and 5-FU groups. Each of TCA, tretinoin and 5-FU are effective in treatment of plane wart, however; TCA seems to be more effective but associated with more pigmentary problems.