Comparative study of therapeutic efficacy of intralesional vitamin D3 versus intralesional purified protein derivative in the treatment of warts

Introduction: Warts are benign epidermal proliferations of skin and mucosa caused by human papilloma virus. Destructive therapeutic modalities are limited by cost, pain, scarring. Immunotherapy is a new modality which acts on enhancing cell mediated immunity. Objective: This study aims to evaluate and compare efficacy of intralesional vitamin D3 and purified protein derivative (PPD) in treatment of warts. Materials and Methods: It is a prospective hospital based comparative study among 40 patients with warts. Patients were randomly and equally divided. Group A patients were given intralesional vitamin D3 (0.2ml of 15mg/ml into each wart) and Group B patients were given intralesional PPD (0.2ml of 5TU/ml into each wart). The injections were repeated every 2 weeks until complete clearance. Decrease in size and number of lesions were evaluated and photographic record was maintained. Patients were followed up after 3 months. Unpaired t test was used for statistical analysis. Results: The study found that 14 out of 20 patients (70%) of Group A showed complete response after 4 sessions and 6 patients (30%) showed moderate response. 17 out of 20 patients (85%) of Group B showed complete response, 2 patients (10%) showed moderate response, 1 patient (5%) showed no response. Recurrence was observed in 1 patient after 3 months who received vitamin D3. No serious adverse effects were observed. Conclusion: Both vitamin D3 and PPD showed positive results with PPD having faster and better efficacy in treatment of multiple common warts.