Immunotherapy for warts

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

Injecting warts with a substance that stimulates immunity can cure warts, according to a study.
Warts are painful, unsightly, and hard to cure. They are caused by infection with the human papilloma virus (HPV), and research has been directed towards having the immune system attack the virus. Doctors at the University of Arkansas now report a clinical trial involving the immunotherapy approach.

They injected warts in a group of 201 patients with either skin test antigen alone or combined with interferon, with interferon alone or with saline. The antigen is a substance used in skin tests for immunity and interferon is a natural component of the immune system.

Fifty seven of the 95 subjects injected with the antigen experienced 100 per cent cure of their warts, even those distant from the injection site. The numbers in the interferon or saline alone groups were much lower. The findings suggest that immunotherapy for warts is an effective and safe approach.

Source
Archives of Dermatology May 2005 Volume 141 pages 589-594

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