Safety profile of imiquimod vs. cryotherapy in the treatment of condylomata acuminata
Keywords:
Condylomata acuminata, imiquimod, cryotherapyAbstract
Introduction  In recent times, condylomata acuminata has emerged as a disease of major public concern because of its high prevalence, sexual mode of transmission, its association with various neoplasia and HIV, difficulty in treatment and high rates of recurrence. Imiquimod is effective in the treatment of condylomata acuminata but there is paucity of data regarding its side effect and its comparison with established treatment method-cryotherapy. Objective  The aim of this study was to compare the safety level of Imiquimod vs cryotherapy in the treatment of condylomata acuminata. Patients and Methods  A randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted from April 2019 to March 2020 in the Department of Dermatology and Venereology of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka, Bangladesh. Primarily 64 patients were enrolled in this study and randomized by lottery method into group A and Group B and patients of group A was treated with Imiquimod and patients of group B was treated with cryotherapy. Results Based on side effects of study findings, burning sensation, blister, hypopigmentation, dyspigmenation and skin atrophy were significantly higher in group ‘B’ (cryotherapy group) compare to group ‘A’ and erosion and hyperpigmentation were higher in group ‘A’. Hypopigmentation, dyspigmentation and skin atrophy are found in group ‘B’ (cryotherapy group) but are absent in group ‘A’ (imiquimod group). Regarding persistent side effects, skin atrophy (31.3%), dyspigmentation (15.6%), hypopigmentation (12.5%) were found in cryotherapy group but only hyperpigmentation (12.5%) was observed in imiquimod group and significantly higher percentage of recurrence had found in cryotherapy group in comparison to imiquimod group (12.5% in group A and 34.4% in patients in group B). Conclusion  Based on study results, it can be concluded that Imiquimod is safer than cryotherapy in the treatment of condylomata acuminata.ÂReferences
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