Efficacy of Autoinoculation in Treatment of Multiple Viral Warts
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54112/bcsrj.v6i6.1997Keywords:
Autoinoculation, Viral warts, HPV, Immunotherapy, PakistanAbstract
Viral warts caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) are common and often resistant to conventional therapies. Autoinoculation therapy stimulates an immune response by reintroducing wart tissue into the skin, offering a potential, low-cost and effective alternative. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of autoinoculation in treating multiple viral warts in the Pakistani population. Methods: A descriptive study was conducted in the Department of Dermatology, Ibn-e-Sina Hospital, Multan, from November 2023 to April 2024. Ninety-one patients aged 18–60 years with multiple warts underwent autoinoculation. Patients were followed for 12 weeks, and outcomes were classified as complete, partial, or no clearance. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23, with chi-square tests applied for associations (p ≤ 0.05). Results: The mean age was 31.8 ± 10.4 years; 57.1% were females. After 12 weeks, 63.7% achieved complete clearance, 23.1% partial, and 13.2% no response. Higher efficacy was observed in younger patients (68.4%) and those with shorter disease duration (71.4%). Mild transient pain and erythema occurred in 17.6%, with no major complications or recurrences. Conclusion: Autoinoculation is a safe, simple, and effective method for managing multiple viral warts, achieving high clearance rates with minimal side effects. It is particularly valuable in resource-limited settings like Pakistan and may serve as an accessible alternative to conventional therapies. Further randomized trials are recommended to confirm long-term efficacy.
Downloads
References
Kusumaputra B., Listiawan M., Tariza F., Sari M., & Citrashanty I.. The autoinoculation approach for treating viral warts: a literature review. Bali Medical Journal 2024; 13(2):800-804. https://doi.org/10.15562/bmj.v13i2.4825
Shahid M., Iftikhar N., Irshad M., Akhtar A., Hafeez J., & Ali U.. Efficacy of autoinoculation in treatment of multiple viral warts - a single arm study. Journal of College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan 2023;33(2):141-144. https://doi.org/10.29271/jcpsp.2023.02.141
Redzic N., Pereira A., Menon S., Bogers J., Coppens A., Kehoe K.et al.. Characterization of type-specific hpv prevalence in a population of persistent cutaneous warts in flanders, belgium. Scientific Reports 2023;13(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-44154-y
Fattah N., Elhusseiny R., & Darahem A.. A comparative study between needling and homologous autoimplantation techniques in treatment of multiple plantar warts. QJM 2021; 114(Supplement_1). https://doi.org/10.1093/qjmed/hcab093.008
Miyata K., Go U., FUJITA M., & Mitsuishi T. Successful treatment with topical diphenylcyclopropenone for three cases of anogenital warts in children. Case Reports in Dermatology 2019; 11(2):123-129. https://doi.org/10.1159/000500295
Taneja G., Hazarika N., & Bhatia R.. Effectiveness of autoinoculation in viral warts: a single arm, open‐label, and clinical trial. Dermatologic Therapy 2020;33(6). https://doi.org/10.1111/dth.14122
Mousa H.. Autoinoculation therapy for the treatment of widespread cutaneous warts. Dermatologic Surgery 2024;50(4):341-344. https://doi.org/10.1097/dss.0000000000004083
Nofal A., Fouda I., Aboelwafa H., & Fawzy M. Successful treatment of doughnut warts with intralesional Candida antigen immunotherapy. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology 2020;20(1):295-299. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocd.13496
Abdelmonaem N., Shaheen M., Foad T., & Elhusseiny R.. Efficacy and safety of homologous autoinoculation in treatment of multiple recalcitrant warts of different types. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology 2020;20(7):2240-2246. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocd.13831
Kucharczyk E.. Intralesional immunotherapy for non-genital viral warts: a review of current evidence and future perspectives. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2025;26(12):5644. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26125644
Ju H., Park H., Kim J., Kim G., Bae J., & Lee J. Intralesional immunotherapy for non-genital warts: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Indian Journal of Dermatology Venereology and Leprology 2022;88:724-737. https://doi.org/10.25259/ijdvl_1369_20
Campolmi P., Quintarelli L., Fusco I., Ronconi L., & Zingoni T.. Clinical evidence of 595 nm pulse dye laser treatment for viral warts on hands and feet. Skin Research and Technology 2023;29(9). https://doi.org/10.1111/srt.13460
Gharib K., Taha A., & Elradi M.. Intralesional acyclovir versus intralesional hepatitis-b vaccine in treatment of resistant plantar warts: a randomized controlled trial. Archives of Dermatological Research 2024;316(6). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00403-024-03001-4
Fathy G., Sharara M., & Khafagy A.. Intralesional vitamin d3 versus Candida antigen immunotherapy in the treatment of multiple recalcitrant plantar warts: a comparative case–control study. Dermatologic Therapy 2019;32(5). https://doi.org/10.1111/dth.12997
Ashraf U., Ahmed N., Tahir M., Hasan F., Shah A., & Farooq O.. Effectiveness of autoinoculation in patients with multiple warts presenting at a tertiary care hospital. Journal of College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan 2023;33:16-19. https://doi.org/10.29271/jcpsp.2023.01.16
Shin D., Han S., Kim T., Jang J., Seo H., & Kim J.. Treatment of recalcitrant viral warts with combination therapy of systemic acitretin and diphenylcyclopropenone immunotherapy. Annals of Dermatology 2020;32(3):243. https://doi.org/10.5021/ad.2020.32.3.243
Jartarkar S., Kadnur M., Babu S., & Swayamsidda M. Intralesional measles-mumps-rubella vaccine in recurrent common warts: a placebo-controlled study. Our Dermatology Online 2023;14(1):11-15. https://doi.org/10.7241/ourd.20231.3
Abdelmonaem N., Shaheen M., Foad T., & Elhusseiny R.. Efficacy and safety of homologous autoinoculation in treatment of multiple recalcitrant warts of different types. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology 2020;20(7):2240-2246. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocd.13831
Shahid M., Iftikhar N., Irshad M., Akhtar A., Hafeez J., & Ali U.. Efficacy of autoinoculation in treatment of multiple viral warts - a single arm study. Journal of College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan 2023;33(2):141-144. https://doi.org/10.29271/jcpsp.2023.02.141
Kusumaputra B., Listiawan M., Tariza F., Sari M., & Citrashanty I.. The autoinoculation approach for treating viral warts: a literature review. Bali Medical Journal 2024;13(2):800-804. https://doi.org/10.15562/bmj.v13i2.4825
Taneja G., Hazarika N., & Bhatia R.. Effectiveness of autoinoculation in viral warts: a single arm, open‐label, and clinical trial. Dermatologic Therapy 2020;33(6). https://doi.org/10.1111/dth.14122
Mousa H.. Autoinoculation therapy for the treatment of widespread cutaneous warts. Dermatologic Surgery 2024;50(4):341-344. https://doi.org/10.1097/dss.0000000000004083
Takahashi N., Shimizu T., Kondoh A., Anzawa K., Shimizu A., & Mabuchi T.. Human papilloma virus type 94–associated flat warts developing repeatedly during tofacitinib treatment: a case report and review. The Journal of Dermatology 2025;52(8):1317-1320. https://doi.org/10.1111/1346-8138.17814
Redzic N., Pereira A., Menon S., Bogers J., Coppens A., Kehoe K.et al.. Characterization of type-specific hpv prevalence in a population of persistent cutaneous warts in flanders, belgium. Scientific Reports 2023;13(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-44154-y.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Ayesha Akram, Nighat Fatima, Saba Amin, Sohail Safdar
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
