Quadrivalent human papilloma virus vaccine for the treatment of multiple warts: a retrospective analysis of 30 patients

Abstract

Background: Various therapeutic modalities have been implemented for wart treatment, with limited efficacy. Recently, resistant warts treated using quadrivalent human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine have been reported, although original articles on the efficacy of quadrivalent HPV vaccine on warts are rare.

Objective: We performed the present study to evaluate the efficacy of quadrivalent HPV vaccine in the treatment of multiple warts.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 30 patients from our centers. Patient demographics, clinical features such as duration of disease, number and location of lesions, therapeutic response, and adverse reactions were assessed.

Results: Regarding therapeutic response, 14 patients (46.67%) showed “Complete response”, 5 (16.67%) showed “Partial response”, and 11 (36.67%) showed “No response”. There were no statistically significant differences in sex, age, disease duration, and lesion number and location between the three groups divided by treatment response. No severe adverse events after quadrivalent HPV vaccination were noted.

Conclusion: The advantage of quadrivalent HPV vaccine in the treatment of warts is that it is more convenient and less painful. HPV vaccine might be a good alternative to conventional destructive methods for incompetent cases such as those including multiple warts, dangerous lesion locations, and uncooperative patients.

Keywords:

• Human papilloma virus
• immunotherapy
• vaccine
• viral disease
• warts

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

IRB approval was acquired from the institutional review board of the hospital (H-1702–028-052).