Immunotherapy with Intralesional Candida Albicans Antigen in Plane Warts

Abstract

Background: Warts are a frequent skin condition. Human papillomavirus is the culprit (HPV). One of the warts treatments is intralesional immunotherapy utilizing the Candida antigen. Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of candida antigen in treatment of patients with plane warts. Patients and methods: Sixty Egyptian patients were randomly assigned into two groups for this study, each with clinically obvious plane warts: Thirty patients were divided into two groups: group (A) received injections of Candida antigen, and group (B) received intralesional saline. Before each injection, one month later, and six months following the final injection, all patients were clinically and visually assessed. Results: The mean age of the studied group was 21.8 ± 6.6 years with 53.7% males and 46.3% females, for the cases group, and the mean age was 24 ± 7.5 years with 46.3% males for the control group. We showed statistical significant difference (p-value < 0.001) between studied groups as regard response at 1 month, 2 month and 6 month. We found Statistically significant (p < 0.001) increased percentage of complete resolution in group I (11 patients, 36.7%) when compared with group II (0 patients, 0%). There was statistical significant (p2 < 0.001) increased percentage of partial resolution (12 patients, 40%) in group I when compared with group II. During the current study, no serious adverse events were observed, and no patients discontinued treatment as a result of side effects. Erythema (26.7%) and edoema (23.3% of all adverse events) were the most common. Conclusion: Intralesional Candida antigen immunotherapy is safe, promising and efficient treatment approach for warts.

Keywords

• warts; candida; intralesional