Comparison Between Efficacy of Formalin 5% Solution and Placebo in Treatment of Plane Warts
Mohammad Ali Mapar1, Mehri Maghsoodi2, Kamal Maghsoodi3, Ali Kardooni4 and Anoosh Shafiee4

1Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.

2Psychiatrist, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

3Department of Cardiology, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.

4Department of Dermatology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Tehran, Iran.

Corresponding Author E-mail: mehrimaghsoodi@yahoo.com

 

Abstract: Warts are one of the contagious viral diseases that can cause disturbing cosmetic problems. Though there are several treatments for warts, none of them offer an effective cure with low complication for all patients. So, the aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of formalin 5% solution with placebo in treatment of plane warts. This is a controlled double-blind clinical trial study, conducted on 36 patients with plane warts referring to Imam Khomeini Hospital in Ahvaz in 2015. The patients were randomly assigned into two groups. The first group applied formalin 5% solution on their lesions, and the second group treated with normal saline as placebo twice daily for 8 weeks. Assessments for the response to treatment and side effects were performed every two weeks. Also Visual Analogue Score (VAS) at the end of treatment, and relapses were investigated after 12 weeks. The collected data was analyzed by the SPSS software. In this study, 27 women and 9 men with the average age of 17.17) ranging from 4 to 46 years) were enrolled. Formalin application was effective in 83.3% of patients, but complete disappearance of warts was seen in 11.1%. There was not any significant response to treatment in placebo group. The result of response to treatment and VAS was significantly different between two group (P>0.05). There was not any significant difference between response to treatment and age, duration of warts, warts location and number of warts (P>0.05). No noticeable adverse events were reported in the use of formalin. Also, relapse was observed in none of the patients. Results of this study demonstrated that application of 5% formalin solution is a safe and effective treatment for plane warts with few side effects and good compliance.

Keywords: Formalin; Topical; Wart

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