Comparison Of Efficacy Of Cryotherapy Versus Ionic Contraviral therapy (ICVT) In The Treatment Of Viral Warts

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background: Viral warts are common, benign, contagious dermatological condition for which various treatment modalities have been tried but recurrence and side effects are the limitations. We want to assess the efficacy of ionic contra viral therapy as a new modality of treatment. Objective: To compare the efficacy of cryotherapy versus ionic contra viral therapy (ICVT) in the treatment of viral warts  Methods: This randomized controlled trial was conducted on 80 patients of both genders, in the age range of 18-60 years, in the Department of Dermatology, Services Institute of Medical Sciences for the duration of 6 months. Patients suffering from palmoplantar warts were included. Patients in group A were given Cryotherapy, while in group B Ionic contra viral therapy (digoxin + furosemide 0.125%). Patients in Group A were given Cryotherapy sessions once a week for four weeks while patients in Group B were offered to apply ICVT topically once daily for four week. Size of the individual lesion was measured before initiation of therapy, every week and at the end of treatment. The response to the treatment was recorded at the end of treatment. Results: This randomized controlled trial included 80 patients, divided into two groups of 40 each. In Group-A patients were treated with Cryotherapy while Group-B patients were treated with ICVT. Mean age of patients in Group-A and in Group-B was 27.45±14.07 and 27.65±11.14 years, respectively. In Group-A 21(52.5%) patients were male and 19(47.5%) patients were female and in Group-B also 21(52.5%) were male and 19(47.5%) were female. In Group-A total number of patients were 40 & total number of warts were 54 while in Group-B total number of patients was again 40 against which total number of warts were 87. In Group-A initial lesion size was 0.34±0.18cm (mean value) and in Group-B it was 0.44±0.21cm (mean value). Both groups showed decreasing trend in lesion size as treatment continued until 4th week. Mean lesion size at 4th week in Group-A and in Group-B was 0.26±0.18cm and 0.21±0.14cm, respectively. At 4th week in group A, excellent response rate was 70.37% (38 out of 54 lesions cleared) while in Group B excellent response rate was 68.97% ( 60 out of  87 lesions cleared) . Although response to treatment was higher in Group-A patients as compared to Group-B but it was not statistically significant (p-value=0.005).  Conclusion: Ionic contra viral therapy is an effective new topical treatment modality and its results are comparable to cryotherapy in the treatment of viral warts. Key words: Cryotherapy, Ionic contra viral Therapy.