Comparative study on the effectiveness of intralesional Measles, Mumps, and Rubella vaccine and intralesional vitamin D3 injection in the treatment of verruca

Abstract

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the causative agent of verruca and is contagious, recurrent, and recalcitrant due to defects in cell-mediated immunity. No single mode of treatment is completely effective. The most commonly used treatment options are destructive and lead to scarring. The emerging new modality of treatment is immunotherapy, which acts by enhancing cell-mediated immunity (CMI) against HPV to clear treated as well as remote warts. Objectives: The objective was to compare the efficacy of intralesional Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine and intralesional vitamin D3 in cutaneous warts. Materials and Methods: A randomized, hospital-based, single-blind study on forty patients divided into two groups (groups A and B), comprising twenty patients each, was conducted. In group A, intralesional MMR vaccine 0.5 mL was injected into the base of warts. In group B, intralesional vitamin D3 0.5 mL was injected into the base of warts after achieving local anesthesia. Sessions were performed in two-week intervals for a maximum number of five sessions. The patients were followed for sixteen weeks. Results: In group A (MMR vaccine), a complete response was seen in 75% (15/20) of the patients, a moderate response in 15% (3/20), a partial response in 5% (1/20), and no response in 5% (1/20). In group B (vitamin D3), a complete response was seen in 65% (13/20) of the patients, a moderate response in 15% (3/20), a partial response in 10% (2/20), and no response in 10% (2/20). No recurrence was noticed after follow-up in either of the two groups. Conclusion: Immunotherapy is an option that is easy, safe, cost-effective, and well-tolerated with minimal side effects.