The efficacy of diphencyprone immunotherapy for the treatment of cutaneous warts: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Background Cutaneous warts, a common skin condition, may resolve spontaneously or become recalcitrant. Diphencyprone has been shown by many studies to have efficacy in treating warts, with varied results. Objectives We aimed to perform a meta-analysis of the cure rate following the use of diphencyprone immunotherapy as a cutaneous wart treatment. Materials and methods The databases of Medline, PubMed, Embase, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Cochrane Controlled Trials Register were searched for prospective and retrospective cohort studies and randomized controlled trials reporting a cure rate for diphencyprone immunotherapy between 1984 and 2018. The Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software (Biostat Inc) was used to perform a meta-analysis of the diphencyprone pool efficacy. Results A total of 153 studies were obtained by searching the databases. After screening for eligibility, 14 studies were included (6 prospective studies, 4 retrospective studies, 3 randomized controlled trials, and 1 case report), representing a total of 851 patients. The random-effects pooled efficacy for diphencyprone was 75.5% (95% CI, 64.6%–83.9%; I2 = 87%). Conclusions Diphencyprone immunotherapy has a high efficacy to cure warts. This method may be used as an adjunctive modality for the treatment of warts in cases of conventional treatment failure.

Keywords

• wart
• diphencyprone
• contact immunotherapy