Update on the treatment of genital warts. Scheinfeld, N. Dermatol Online J. 2013 Jun 15;19(6):18559.
This review summarizes new treatments from the last seven years employed for the treatment of genital warts caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). Imiquimod 3.75%is a new agent with fewer side effects and perhaps a better dosing schedule than imquimod 5%, but is not more effective. Sinecatechins/Polyphenon E 15%, a novel extract from green tea can be effective against genital warts but requires three times a day dosing and is not more effective than existing treatments; the treatment course is 12-16 weeks. Photodynamic therapy combined with other destructive modalities might increase the cure rate for genital warts. The quadrivalent vaccine against HPV 6, 11, 16, 18 is decreasing the incidence of warts in the western world but the evidence does not support vaccination as a treatment for those already infected by HPV. Hyperthermia and immunomodulators might be positive additions to the armamentarium of clinicians. In sum, there are new tools that physicians can use but none is really a great advance over what was available a decade ago.
Genital warts: a comprehensive review. Yanofsky VR, Patel RV, Goldenberg G. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2012 Jun;5(6):25-36.
External genital warts, also known as condylomata acuminata, are extremely common, with between 500,000 to one million new cases diagnosed each year in the United States alone. To date, more than 120 distinct subtypes of human papillomavirus have been identified. Human papillomavirus types 6 and 11 rarely give rise to cervical cancers, but are responsible for 90 percent of the cases of genital warts. The current treatment options are largely centered upon removal of the warts rather than elimination of the underlying viral infection. A wide range of therapies are presently in use, which are highly variable and can differ dramatically with respect to cost, side-effect profiles, dosing schedules, duration of treatment, and overall effectiveness. As of yet, no definitive therapy has emerged as the ideal standard of care in the treatment of genital warts, and therapy selection generally occurs in a patient-specific manner.
Infections after photodynamic therapy in Condyloma acuminatum patients: incidence and management. Yu X, Zheng H. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2018 May;25(14):14000-14005.
Condyloma acuminatum (CA), or genital wart, is a sexually transmitted infection caused by human papillomaviruses. Increasing evidences demonstrated that photodynamic therapy (PDT) is effective in eliminating latent HPV infection, the major reason for CA recurrence. We observed an increasing number of infections after PDT in CA patients, which has not been reported before. This study aims to evaluate the incidence and management of infection in CA patients after PDT procedure. CA patients received PDT from January 2015 to February 2016 at the outpatient setting. Patients were randomly divided into two groups: the control group and fusidic acid group. Patients in the fusidic acid group used topical fusidic acid (2%) and recombinant human interferon after 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA)-PDT procedure, while patients in the control group only used recombinant human interferon. Patients came to our department for follow-up evaluations at 4, 8, and 12 weeks after treatment for three times of PDT. Patients with ALA-PDT-associated infection were then randomly divided into two groups: the fusidic acid group and mupirocin group. During the 13-month study period, a total of 718 patients with 2154 times of PDT procedures were enrolled. The infection rate after PDT was 8.5% in the control group, while it was 1.1% in the prophylactic topical fusidic acid group. The cure rate of PDT-associated infection was 85.7% in the fusidic acid group and 86.7% in the mupirocin group. In conclusion, prophylactic topical antibiotic was useful for reduction of PDT-associated infection and optimal wound healing in CA patients.
