Treatment of the common wart by induced allergic inflammation

In an uncontrolled investigation 63 selected patients with verrucae vulgares were sensitized with DNCB (1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene) with subsequent regular painting of the warts with DNCB. Only 86% of these patients could be sensitized, in contrast to 96% in a normal population. 20 patients had to be excluded from the material on account of defaulting or defective sensitization. In the remainder of the patients allergic type IV inflammation developed around the painted warts and 1 patient developed an urticarial type I reaction around the warts and on the body. In the patients with multiple warts, 80% (24/30) were cured. This corresponds to the percentage cure in patients with solitary warts. Complement-binding wart virus antibodies were present in 15% of the patients prior to the treatment and in 43% after the conclusion of treatment. This investigation provides a new method of treatment of verrucae vulgares and suggests that regression in warts is immunologically conditioned. On account of the risk of allergic side effects, the method should be carried out in special departments only.