This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Imiquimod, Mycobacterium w vaccine produced comparable results for HPV-6
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
Researchers found imiquimod 5% cream and intralesional injections of the Mycobacterium w vaccine to be equally effective in the clinical and virologic clearance of HPV-6, with similar final outcomes and adverse effect profiles.
Eighty-nine patients with anogenital warts (AGWs) were included in a double-blind, randomized clinical trial conducted between February 2009 and July 2012, during which time the patients were randomly assigned to receive either imiquimod 5% cream and an intralesional vehicle or vehicle cream and intralesional Mycobacterium w (Mw) vaccine.
The study’s primary endpoint was complete clinical remission of visible AGWs, with secondary endpoints of percentage of reduction in AGW surface area and viral load for HPV-6 and HPV-11. The researchers measured viral load through real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction.
Fifty-nine percent of the patients in the imiquimod group and 67% of those in the Mw group achieved complete resolution, according to the researchers.
Testing revealed 18 different HPV genotypes, including high-risk genotypes; however, the researchers found no significant differences between the two treatment groups.
Although a significant decline was seen in the mean viral loads of HPV-6 and HPV-11 after treatment for the Mw group, only the viral load of HPV-6 was significantly reduced in the imiquimod group, according to the researchers.
Patients who achieved complete clearance by 3-month follow-up experienced no recurrence of AGWs, and the researchers found no reports of serious adverse events.
Disclosure: The authors have no relevant financial disclosures.
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts