Intralesional measles-mumps-rubella vaccine in recurrent common warts: A placebo-controlled study

Abstract

Background: Cutaneous warts cause immense an burden to patients as well as physicians. Although most resolve spontaneously within two years, treatment is sought for pain alleviating and cosmetic reasons. Various modalities of treatment are known. The destructive methods are unsuitable for multiple warts and are associated with chances of recurrence, scarring, and pain. In contrast, immunotherapy boosts the host immune response against the virus and helps in clearance, even in distant warts, without scars or physical change. This study was undertaken to assess the efficacy of intralesional MMR vaccine in multiple recurrent common warts. Materials and Methods: Sixty-six patients with recurrent common warts were divided equally into two groups. In group one, 0.5 mL of the MMR vaccine and, in group two, 0.5 mL of normal saline were injected intralesionally into the base of the largest wart. The sessions were repeated once in two weeks for a maximum of four sessions. The patients were followed up for twelve months to detect recurrences. Results: Complete clearance of warts was noted in 75.76% (n = 25) of the patients in the study group, whereas, in the control group, 78.79% (n = 26) patients showed no response. The result was statistically significant (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Intralesional MMR is a safe and effective treatment option for recurrent common warts with minimal side effects. Key words: viral warts; intralesional MMR vaccine; immunotherapy