Plantar wart cost-effectiveness of therapy

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

A 2006 study assessed the effects of different local treatments for cutaneous, non-genital warts in healthy people. The study reviewed 60 randomized clinical trials dating up to March 2005. The main findings were:

• Overall there is a lack of evidence (many trials were excluded because of poor methodology and reporting).
• The average cure rate using a placebo was 27% after an average period of 15 weeks.
• The best treatments are those containing salicylic acid. They are clearly better than placebo.
• There is surprisingly little evidence for the absolute efficacy of cryotherapy.
• Two trials comparing salicylic acid and cryotherapy showed no significant difference in efficacy.
• One trial comparing salicylic acid and duct tape occlusion therapy showed no significant difference in efficacy.
• Evidence for the efficacy of the remaining treatments was limited.

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