Publication:

Evaluation of therapeutic effectiveness of vitamin D3 injections in common warts in a tertiary care centre

Background Warts or verrucae are the benign cutaneous manifestations caused by human papilloma virus. The treatment of wart possess a therapeutic challenge, as a result multiple modalities are existing for the treatment of cutaneous warts, which is cumbersome and may result in cosmetic disfigurement, chances of recurrences. The aim of the present study was to determine the resolution of common warts in response to vitamin D3 injections and to compare the resolution of common warts in the group receiving vitamin D3 with placebo group receiving normal saline.

Methods A total of 26 patients were enrolled and divided into Group A- received lesional injection of 0.2 ml vitamin D3 every 3 weeks for 3 months for the improvement in the size of warts. Group B- received 0.2 ml of normal saline injections as a control. The maximum of three sessions were carried in both groups. Clinical assessment was done by photographic evaluation at baseline, before each treatment session, and after completion of treatment.

Results In group A, 76.92% (10) of the patients showed complete clearance of wart with vitamin D3 injection, while in group B 8% (1) of patients with normal saline showed partial response. This therapy was well tolerated except for the minimal side effects like pain, redness and swelling at the site of injection.

Conclusions Intralesional Vit D3 injections may be a treatment option for warts, which has a good cosmetical acceptance and simple, well tolerated easily administrated in outpatient clinic rather than conventional treatment.