Intralesional Candida antigen versus intralesional vitamin D3 in the treatment of recalcitrant multiple common warts

Background There are various therapies available for recalcitrant common warts; however no specific therapy has been established as entirely effective. Aims To assess the efficacy and safety of intralesional Candida antigen injection of vs. intralesional vitamin D3 injection in the treatment of multiple recalcitrant common warts. Patients and methods A total of 80 adult patients with multiple common warts were randomly assigned to one of three groups in this study. Thirty patients were assigned to Group I, who received a 0.3 ml intralesional injection of Candida antigen. Thirty patients were assigned to Group II, who received a 0.6‐ml (60 000 IU) intralesional injection of vitamin D3. Twenty patients were in Group‐III, who received 0.3 ml of normal saline as a control. Each agent was injected at the base of largest wart every 3 weeks until full clearance has been obtained, or for a maximum of four sessions. Results In the Candida antigen, vitamin D3, and saline groups, complete wart clearance was observed in 76.7 percent, 20%, and 0.0 percent, respectively. The side effects were negligible and transient, and there was no recurrence of the lesions. Conclusion Intralesional injection of Candida antigen is as a safe, simple, cost‐effective treatment modality for multiple recalcitrant common warts and it outperforms intralesional vitamin D3.