Role of Candida antigen in treatment of viral warts: a placebo-controlled study

Background Warts are a common skin disorder. They are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). The currently available therapies are based on local destruction of the lesion. Other treatment options include immunotherapy. Candida antigen acts as an immune modulator. It causes resolution of warts in the vicinity of the injection and also at distant sites, when given intralesional and intradermal simultaneously. Objectives To determine the efficacy and safety of intradermal and intralesional Candida antigen in comparison with the placebo in the treatment of viral warts. Patients and methods It was an interventional (qausi experimental) study, carried out in out-patient, Department of Dermatology, Unit II, Mayo Hospital, Lahore. Patients were divided into two groups of 30 each. Group A was given 0.1 ml of Candida antigen and group B was given 0.1 ml of normal saline intradermally and intralesionally. Maximum of 1 ml was given per visit. Total of three doses were given each one month apart. Patients were followed up for three months after the last dose. Results The treatment was effective in about 67% of patients receiving Candida antigen therapy, whereas, in the control group only 20% patients showed improvement (p 0.05). The results were statistically significant. The antigen was well tolerated and the side effects produced were mainly local and only transient.