Can quadrivalent human papillomavirus prophylactic vaccine be an effective alternative for the therapeutic management of genital warts? an exploratory study

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the treatment effect of genital warts, we investigated the quadrivalent HPV vaccine injection compared with surgical excision. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective study included 26 patients (M:F = 24:2) who received HPV vaccine or surgical excision. After explanation of surgical excision or HPV vaccine, 16 patients underwent surgical excision and the others received HPV vaccine injections. Based on gross findings of genital warts, treatment outcomes were classified as complete response (no wart), partial response, and failed treatment. RESULTS: Among enrolled patients, 42% (11 / 26) patients had recurrent genital warts. In vaccination group, complete response rates of genital wart were 60% following 3 times HPV vaccine. Partial response patients wanted to excise the genital lesions before the 3 times injection, because they worried about sexual transmission of disease to their sexual partners. One patient underwent surgical excision after 3 times injection. Excision sites included suprapubic lesions, but other sites including mid-urethra and glans showed complete response after injection. At a mean follow-up period of 8.42 ± 3.27 months, 10 patients (100%) who received HPV vaccine did not show recurrence. CONCLUSION: The response rates after HPV vaccine injection were 90% (complete and partial). Our results suggested that HPV vaccines could be effective in management of genital warts.