Warts are common dermatological disease. They occur due to infection by the human papilloma virus. They can occur at any site and any age. Sometimes they persist for many years and their treatment become difficult and depressing for dermatologists and patients.
Various modalities have been utilized for warts treatment including the destructive methods and immunotherapy. None of them proved to be a completely effective treatment. Immunotherapy has the advantage of stimulating the immune system to recognize the virus, so both treated and distant warts are cleared. It also avoids the undesired side effects of the destructive methods such as severe pain, scaring and hypo or hyperpigmentation.
Intralesional immunotherapy stimulates a delayed-type hypersensitivity response through infiltration of CD4 T-lymphocytes and macrophages in wart lesions, activation of CD4 lymphocytes with the release of IL2, TNF α and (IFN-α, β, and γ) which have antiviral effects on HPV.
Various antigens have been tried like BCG, PPD, MMR, candida antigen and the recently utilized Hepatitis B virus vaccine.