Intralesional Vitamin D3 Versus Bleomycin for Difficult-to-Heal Palmoplantar Warts: A Comparative Study

INTRODUCTION: Difficult-to-heal or recalcitrant palmoplantar warts are notoriously resistant to treatment, making treatment difficult and challenging. To improve the outcome and overcome the difficulties, various treatment options have been tried, but none is gold standard. Many comparative studies have been undertaken to assess the efficacy of various drugs; however, none of them are standardized, and no single treatment is effective. Various comparative efficacy studies have been conducted but, to the best of our knowledge, no study has been conducted comparing intralesional (IL) injection (inj) vitamin D3 (Vit D3) with the chemotherapy drug IL inj Bleomycin for difficult-to-heal palmoplantar warts. We conducted a trial to evaluate the efficacy of IL inj Vit D3 versus IL inj Bleomycin in the treatment of difficult-to-heal palmoplantar warts. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of IL inj vitamin D3 versus IL inj Bleomycin as biological response modifier therapy in difficult-to-heal palmoplantar warts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cohort of 48 patients with difficult-to-heal warts were consecutively assigned to one of two groups: Group 1 IL inj Vit D3 (0.2–0.5 mL inj vitamin D3 600,000 IU solution 15 mg/mL) or Group 2 IL inj Bleomycin (0.2–0.4 mL of 1 U/mL solution) for a maximum of four treatments spaced 2 weeks apart, with a maximum of five warts treated at each visit for both groups. Warts were measured at baseline and at each subsequent visit. Wart’s resolution was measured as 1–25%, 2–50%, 3–75%, and 4–100% reduction. Patients were followed-up for 3 months after treatment. RESULTS: All the 48 patients completed the study, with 26 receiving IL inj Vit D3 with complete resolution in 88.5%, partial resolution in 11.5%, and side effects in 6.2%. In 22 patients receiving IL inj Bleomycin, 95.5% had complete resolution, 4.5% had partial resolution, and 8.2% had side effects. Maximum resolution was observed in the third session. We found no recurrence after 3 months. CONCLUSION: IL inj Vit D3 and IL inj Bleomycin are both safe and effective in treating difficult-to-heal palmoplantar warts with better outcomes and patient satisfaction. IL Bleomycin was significantly more effective than IL Vit D3, although the difference was not statistically significant.