Oral isotretinoin versus acitretin in male patients with multiple recalcitrant common warts: A randomized, double‐blinded placebo‐control study

Abstract

Common warts present as hyperkeratotic, skin-colored papules located mainly on the dorsa of the hands and feet. The most prevalent genotypes of low-risk Human Papilloma virus (HPV) that cause cutaneous warts are HPV 1, 2, 3, 4, 10, 27, and 57, and from these genotypes 1, 2, 4, 27, and 57 cause common warts. 1 Most of the current therapeutic modalities depend on the ablation of warts. These include, among others, chemical cautery, electrocautery, cryotherapy, and laser therapy. This approach might be suitable for patients presenting with single or few lesions. In multiple warts, destructive procedures are inappropriate, impractical and might be associated with high rates of recurrence and significant adverse effects as pain, tissue destruction, infection, and scarring. 2

Systemic immunotherapy for the treatment of warts: A literature review

“…Oral isotretinoin and acitretin are promising effective modalities with minimal side effects for the treatment male patients with multiple recalcitrant common warts with a relative superiority of acitretin. [18][19][20] We used low-dose isotretinoin (0.3 mg/kg/day) for three months to successfully treat plane warts, and complete clearing was noticed in 16 of the 36 patients studied (44.4%). 21 As well, after 6 months of treatment with a conjunction of systemic acitretin and diphenylcyclopropenone (DPCP) immunotherapy, a 19-year-old man with multiple viral warts showed a significant improvement during the 12th week of therapy.…”

“…Oral isotretinoin and acitretin are promising effective modalities with minimal side effects for the treatment male patients with multiple recalcitrant common warts with a relative superiority of acitretin 18–20 …”

Possible Side Effects of Isotretinoin Use in Dermatology: Review Article

“…They influence cellular division and differentiation of stratified structures of epidermis. Natural retinoids such as vitamin A (retinol), beta-carotene, retinal, and all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) play crucial roles in a wide range of biological activities, like the processes of seeing, reproducing, vertebrate embryonic morphogenesis and organogenesis, arresting cell development, differentiating cells, triggering cell death, and regulating the immune system (2) .…”