Reprint of: Clearance of multiple cutaneous warts by targeting a single lesion: A randomized comparative evaluation of mild local hyperthermia versus cryotherapy

To the Editor: Multiple mucocutaneous warts are common in patients due to virus spreading or self-inoculation, as exemplified by 22.2% of the patients with plantar warts having more than one lesion. 1 De Planell-Mas E. Martínez-Garriga B. Zalacain A.J. Vinuesa T. Viñas M. Human papillomaviruses genotyping in plantar warts. J Med Virol. 2017; 89: 902-907 Crossref PubMed Scopus (19) Google Scholar Specific immune responses against human papillomavirus-harboring lesions contribute to self-regression or treatment-mediated clearance of warts. As such, the treatment-induced immune response to one target lesion could likely initiate the immune-mediated clearance of untargeted or remote lesions in patients with multiple warts containing the same human papillomavirus types. Indeed, we have previously observed that applying local hyperthermia at 44 °C on a single lesion resolved the lesions of 59.1% (150 of 254 cases) of the patients with multiple untreated plantar warts. 2 Huo W. Gao Y.L. Wang H.Y. et al. Local hyperthermia versus cryotherapy for treatment of plantar warts: a prospective multi-centre non-randomized concurrent controlled clinical trial. Acta Derm Venereol. 2022; 102 (adv00655) Crossref PubMed Scopus (5) Google Scholar There is little evidence regarding response of untreated warts to cryotherapy of a single wart. 3 Jean L.B. Julie V.S. Lorenzo C. Dermatology. 4th ed. Elsevier, 2018 Google Scholar Clearance of multiple cutaneous warts by targeting a single lesion: A randomized comparative evaluation of mild local hyperthermia versus cryotherapyJournal of the American Academy of DermatologyVol. 87Issue 6PreviewTo the Editor: Multiple mucocutaneous warts are common in patients due to virus spreading or self-inoculation, as exemplified by 22.2% of the patients with plantar warts having more than one lesion.1 Specific immune responses against human papillomavirus-harboring lesions contribute to self-regression or treatment-mediated clearance of warts. As such, the treatment-induced immune response to one target lesion could likely initiate the immune-mediated clearance of untargeted or remote lesions in patients with multiple warts containing the same human papillomavirus types. Full-Text PDF