Contovir - A New Adjuvant Therapy in Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis: A Case Study

Abstract

Background: Contovir is a mixture of herbal extracts (Tanacetum vulgare, Rossa canina, Urtica dioica) that is supplemented with selenium. Objectives: This study aimed to add Contovir to the classic treatment of recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) in order to decrease the severity and extent of the disease, elongate the surgical intervals and improve the sense of patient well-being. Furthermore, we had to adjust the prescribed drug dosage, since there were no previous findings available. Patients and Methods: This is a case study of RRP patients treated with Contovir as an adjuvant to the classic treatment, from March 2011 to February 2013, at an academic tertiary hospital (Rasoul-e-Akram hospital). All patients underwent surgical removal of papilloma and then were prescribed Contovir. Disease severity was quantified based on Derkay's staging system. Results: Eight patients were enrolled in this study. The extent and severity of the disease improved in six cases. One had no response, and the severity of disease increased in one patient. Patients with supraglottic lesions had better responses to Contovir adjuvant therapy. No immediate or long-term side effects were reported. Conclusions: Although Contovir has been found to be an advantageous adjuvant for RRP treatment, further studies are called for to verify these findings.

Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis: clinical characteristics and viral genotyping in a Brazilian population

“…When the juvenile-RRP group was assessed separately, the age at the time of diagnosis ranged between 1 and 12 years old, as shown in Table 3. Most patients (62.5%) (10) were diagnosed up to their fifth year of life, and 37.5% (7) were diagnosed after six years of age.…”

“…According to the patient's age, RRP can be classified as juvenile-RRP when it occurs in individuals aged ≤12 years old and adult-RRP when it affects individuals aged >12 years 7,8 . Juvenile-RRP is generally more aggressive due to the rapid growth of multiple lesions with possible airway obstruction, recurrence and metastasis 2,9 .…”