THE TREATMENT OF PALMAR AND PLANTAR WARTS USING NATURAL ALPHA-INTERFERON AND A NEEDLELESS INJECTOR

BACKGROUND. The treatment of palmar and plantar warts is difficult and often frustrating. The need for multiple destructive treatments and r ecurrences after apparent cure are common. OBJECTIVE. The purpose of t his study was to determine if intralesional natural alpha interferon m ight offer an effective alternative therapy for common plantar and pal mar warts. METHODS. A series of 22 private office patients with palmar and plantar warts were treated with intralesional natural alpha inter feron using a needleless injector. We treated twice weekly for a minim um of 8 weeks or until clear. RESULTS. Sixteen patients (73%) showed c omplete clearing of their warts in a mean of 11 weeks of twice weekly treatment. Upon follow-up, which averaged 9.5 months, 17 of 21 patient s (81%) remained clear of their warts. CONCLUSION. Natural alpha inter feron by needleless injector appears to represent an effective alterna tive treatment for palmar and plantar human papillomavirus lesions. Fu rther study of this modality is indicated.