Evaluation of the efficacy of acitretin in the treatment of multiple viral warts: a pilot study

Abstract

Background: Wart treatment should be painless, safe, time-efficient, and cost-effective, according to the ideal model. Objective: To study patients with widespread recalcitrant warts to see if oral acitretin was clinically effective and safe. Patients and Methods: A total of 21 patients with multiple recalcitrant warts were studied in this study. At Zagazig University Hospitals, they were recruited from the Dermatology and Venereology Outpatient Clinic. For a maximum of four months, the patients received oral acitretin at a dose of (0.5 mg/Kg/day) until complete clearance.
Results: There were a total of 21 participants in the study. They ranged in age from 18 to 59 years old, with 11 males and 10 females; 52.4 percent, 47.6 percent respectively. Four patients (19%) showed complete response to the treatment, 12 patients (57.2%) showed partial response and 5 patients (23.8%) showed no response. With no patients stopping treatment because of side effects, the medication was found to be safe. Dry skin and cheilitis were the most common mild side effects observed. During a three-month follow-up period, there were no recurrences.
Conclusion: Patients with recalcitrant multiple warts respond favourably to the safe, effective, and well-tolerated treatment with acitretin.