Efficacy of Intralesional Measles Mumps Rubella Vaccine in the Treatment of Verruca Vulgaris: An Interventional Study.

Abstract

Background A wart is a mucocutaneous illness caused by the growth of HPV-infected skin or mucosal cells. Intralesional immunotherapy makes use of the immune system's ability to identify injected antigens, which might cause a delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction not just to the antigen but also to the wart virus. This, in turn, improves the immune system's ability to identify and eliminate HPV not just at the treated wart but also at distant places, as well as prevent recurrences. Aims and objectives To study the efficacy of the intralesional measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine in verruca vulgaris and its side effects. Materials and methods Interventional research with a 94-case sample size was conducted over a period of seven months. A volume of 0.3 ml of the MMR vaccination was reconstituted with sterile water and injected into the largest wart at three-week intervals until complete clearance or for a maximum of three treatments. Following a six-month observation period, patients were evaluated to look for recurrence, and the degree of response was categorized as total, partial, or none at all. Results The youngest case included in the study was of age 10 years and the eldest case was of 45 years. The mean age was 28.22± 10.98. Of 94 patients, 83 (88.3%) were men and 11 (11.7%) were women. Complete remission was reported in 38 (40.42%) cases, a partial response in 46 (48.94%) cases, and no response in 10 (10.63%) cases. All 38 patients who showed complete clearance had a duration of warts in six months or less. The pain was a universal complaint (100%) after each visit followed by bleeding at 25.53%. Flu-like symptoms were noted in three cases after the first dose and two cases after the second dose, while urticaria was seen in one case during all visits. Cervical lymphadenopathy was observed in two cases after the first dose. Erythema multiforme minor was seen only in one patient after the first dose. Conclusion Intra-lesional MMR vaccine therapy proved to be a simple and safe treatment option in cases having multiple warts. The response rate may increase if a higher concentration of vaccine (0.5ml) and additional doses (maximum of five doses) are given.

• Authors: Ashma S Surani, Raghavon Un, Yogesh Marfatia
• Journal: Cureus (Cureus) Vol. 15 Issue 1 Pg. e34338 (Jan 2023) ISSN: 2168-8184 [Print] United States
• PMID: 36865954 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2023, Surani et al.