Comparative study of 585nm LASER(PDL) and cryotherapy in the treatmnt of viral wart

Common wart is a benign proliferation or tumor of mucocutaneous surfaces caused by different types of human papilloma virus (HPV). It is very common in children and young adults.

The aim of this study is to compare therapeutic and side effects of Cryotherapy versus Pulsed Dye Laser (PDL) in the treatment of common warts.

In this prospective controlled randomized clinical trial (RCT), 20 patients with 100 wart lesions were enrolled. The patients were randomly divided into two groups each consisting of 10 patients (with 50 lesions). The treatment protocol for the first group consisted of laser therapy with PDL (wavelength of 585 nm), and the second group treated with Cryotherapy. Patients in both groups were treated every 3 weeks up to 5 times till complete clearance of the lesions achieved. All of the patients were examined in every session of treatments for the clinical response or probable side effects. After completing the proposed course of treatments, patients were examined every 4 weeks for 2 months in order to detect recurrence or probable side effects.

The clinical response for the first group (treated with PDL) and second group (treated with Cryotherapy) were 46.1% and 53.9% respectively. So it was concluded that Cryotherapy has provided better clinical response than PDL, while statistically no meaningful difference between these groups was observed (PV=0.056).

The results of this study showed that laser therapy with PDL in comparison with Cryotherapy leads to less side effects, so the laser therapy could be used as the first line in the treatment of common warts, of course the results of the current study needs to be confirmed.