RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Anogenital warts (AGWs) are a common therapeutic challenge. All therapies are associated with burning, pain, and frustrating high rate of recurrence. The search for a new alternative continues. Recently, a diterpene ester extracted from the Euphorbia peplus plant (ingenol mebutate [IM]) has been shown to possess activity against AGWs. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare and evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and safety of topical 0.05% ingenol gel with another herbal extract medication (topical 25% podophyllin solution) in treatment of AGWs. METHODS: This was a comparative single blinded nonrandomized, 2-arm trial of ingenol 0.05% gel versus podophyllin solution 25% administered up to 6 times to patients with AGWs. To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy, the complete clearance rate and recurrence rate were assessed 1 and 12 weeks after last treatment, respectively. Safety was assessed by occurrence and severity of pain and local skin reaction (LSR). RESULTS: Of 31 and 36 patients in the IM group and podophyllin group who completed the study, initial complete resolution was observed in 20 (64.5%) and 14 (38.9%) patients, respectively (P = 0.03). The initial clearance was faster in the IM group (2.00 ± 0.91 weeks) compared with the podophyllin group (4.21 ± 1.05 weeks, P = 0.00). After 3 months, recurrence was seen in 13 (65.0%) of 20 patients in the IM group and 6 (42.8%) of 14 in the podophyllin group (P = 0.20). The number of patients with complete resolution after 3 months was not different between the 2 groups (7/31 in the IM group and 8/36 in the podophyllin group, P = 0.97). The mean ± SD severity scores for LSR and pain in the IM group were 6.65 ± 1.76 and 6.13 ± 2.57, respectively, which was significantly higher than their scores (3.39 ± 1.57 and 2.58 ± 1.38) in the podophyllin group (P = 0.00). CONCLUSION: Ingenol mebutate 0.05% gel is effective as podophyllin 25% solution in treating AGWs, with further benefit of being much more rapid. However, high recurrence rate, sever pain, and LSR limit its use.