Efficacy of tuberculin immunotherapy in verruca vulgaris: Our experience from single center from North‐West India and review of literature

Verruca vulgaris (VV) acquired through direct contact or autoinoculation of human papilloma virus (HPV). Treatment of VV are challenging as destructive modalities have variable efficacy and recurrence rates. Various immunotherapies attempt to stimulate the cell-mediated host immune response against HPV. We have assessed efficacy of intralesional tuberculin in patients with verruca vulgaris and to see the long term follow-up at 12 months. Forty patients were enrolled in the study. All patients received intralesional tuberculin injections (5 Tuberculin U/mL) in a dose of 0.1 mL/lesion every fortnightly. Patients were followed up for 12 months duration, and response to treatment assessed. Thirty patients (75%) showed complete resolution, 5 (12.5%) patients showed partial response, 3 (7.5%) showed minimal response and 2 (5%) were non-responders. Irrespective of tuberculin sensitivity test response the majority of patients showed grade 3 response. Five (12.5%) patients had a recurrence of lesions. Two had a recurrence on the same site, and three had recurrences over distant sites. Intralesional tuberculin immunotherapy is an effective modality for VV. Immunotherapy of warts is a potential area of research, and exact method and agents are still under investigation.