Clinical and Dermoscopic Study of Intra-lesional Injection of Acyclovir Versus Candida Antigen in Treatment of Plantar Warts

Background: Plantar wart is a common viral infection occurring in the plantar aspect of the foot, caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). Intra-lesional immunotherapy has emerged as a front-runner treatment option for plantar warts. Objectives: This study aimed to compare the efficacy and tolerability...

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Main Authors: Mohammed Abu El-Hamd, Essam Nada, Raghda M. Hassan, Mawra A. Aboelmagd
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2025-07-01
Series:Indian Journal of Dermatology
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Online Access:https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/ijd.ijd_1030_23
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author Mohammed Abu El-Hamd
Essam Nada
Raghda M. Hassan
Mawra A. Aboelmagd
author_facet Mohammed Abu El-Hamd
Essam Nada
Raghda M. Hassan
Mawra A. Aboelmagd
author_sort Mohammed Abu El-Hamd
collection DOAJ
description Background: Plantar wart is a common viral infection occurring in the plantar aspect of the foot, caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). Intra-lesional immunotherapy has emerged as a front-runner treatment option for plantar warts. Objectives: This study aimed to compare the efficacy and tolerability of intra-lesional injections of acyclovir versus candida antigen in patients with plantar warts. Methods: This randomised-controlled clinical trial was conducted on 40 patients with plantar warts. The included patients were randomly assigned into two groups: Group 1 (n = 20) was treated with intra-lesional injections of acyclovir. Group 2 (n = 20) was treated by intra-lesional injections of candida antigen. Injections were every 2 weeks for 5 sessions. All the patients were evaluated before and after treatment through clinical, photographic, and dermoscopic assessments. All side effects (local and systemic), during or after injections were recorded. Results: In acyclovir intra-lesional injected warts, a score of 3 (complete clearance clinically, and dermoscopically) was achieved in 65% of target warts, 15% had a score of 2 (patients’ dermoscopy confirmed the persistence of warts despite the fact that the warts had disappeared clinically), 20% had a score of 1 (warts were smaller and thinner but not completely gone upon clinical or dermoscopic examination). In candida intra-lesional injected warts, a score of 3 was achieved in 70% of target warts and 25% had a score of 1. Conclusion: Both intra-lesional acyclovir and candida antigen appear to be effective and tolerated treatment modalities for plantar warts. Although there were similar reports of side effects for both treatments, the success rate of curing warts using intra-lesional candida antigen was slightly greater.
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spelling doaj-art-273a2bc4b8f84c8e9ec6f6ea581b0e6e2025-07-05T05:57:51ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsIndian Journal of Dermatology0019-51541998-36112025-07-0170417117610.4103/ijd.ijd_1030_23Clinical and Dermoscopic Study of Intra-lesional Injection of Acyclovir Versus Candida Antigen in Treatment of Plantar WartsMohammed Abu El-HamdEssam NadaRaghda M. HassanMawra A. AboelmagdBackground: Plantar wart is a common viral infection occurring in the plantar aspect of the foot, caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). Intra-lesional immunotherapy has emerged as a front-runner treatment option for plantar warts. Objectives: This study aimed to compare the efficacy and tolerability of intra-lesional injections of acyclovir versus candida antigen in patients with plantar warts. Methods: This randomised-controlled clinical trial was conducted on 40 patients with plantar warts. The included patients were randomly assigned into two groups: Group 1 (n = 20) was treated with intra-lesional injections of acyclovir. Group 2 (n = 20) was treated by intra-lesional injections of candida antigen. Injections were every 2 weeks for 5 sessions. All the patients were evaluated before and after treatment through clinical, photographic, and dermoscopic assessments. All side effects (local and systemic), during or after injections were recorded. Results: In acyclovir intra-lesional injected warts, a score of 3 (complete clearance clinically, and dermoscopically) was achieved in 65% of target warts, 15% had a score of 2 (patients’ dermoscopy confirmed the persistence of warts despite the fact that the warts had disappeared clinically), 20% had a score of 1 (warts were smaller and thinner but not completely gone upon clinical or dermoscopic examination). In candida intra-lesional injected warts, a score of 3 was achieved in 70% of target warts and 25% had a score of 1. Conclusion: Both intra-lesional acyclovir and candida antigen appear to be effective and tolerated treatment modalities for plantar warts. Although there were similar reports of side effects for both treatments, the success rate of curing warts using intra-lesional candida antigen was slightly greater.https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/ijd.ijd_1030_23acyclovircandidaintra-lesionalplantar warts
spellingShingle Mohammed Abu El-Hamd
Essam Nada
Raghda M. Hassan
Mawra A. Aboelmagd
Clinical and Dermoscopic Study of Intra-lesional Injection of Acyclovir Versus Candida Antigen in Treatment of Plantar Warts
Indian Journal of Dermatology
acyclovir
candida
intra-lesional
plantar warts
title Clinical and Dermoscopic Study of Intra-lesional Injection of Acyclovir Versus Candida Antigen in Treatment of Plantar Warts
title_full Clinical and Dermoscopic Study of Intra-lesional Injection of Acyclovir Versus Candida Antigen in Treatment of Plantar Warts
title_fullStr Clinical and Dermoscopic Study of Intra-lesional Injection of Acyclovir Versus Candida Antigen in Treatment of Plantar Warts
title_full_unstemmed Clinical and Dermoscopic Study of Intra-lesional Injection of Acyclovir Versus Candida Antigen in Treatment of Plantar Warts
title_short Clinical and Dermoscopic Study of Intra-lesional Injection of Acyclovir Versus Candida Antigen in Treatment of Plantar Warts
title_sort clinical and dermoscopic study of intra lesional injection of acyclovir versus candida antigen in treatment of plantar warts
topic acyclovir
candida
intra-lesional
plantar warts
url https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/ijd.ijd_1030_23
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