Evaluation of Combined Treatment With Er:YAG & Nd:YAG Lasers for the Treatment of Recalcitrant Warts

Viral warts are benign epithelial proliferations, characteristically 1-20 mm in diameter, that develop secondary to infection of keratinocytes by human papilloma virus (HPV). HPV comprises a large group of approximately 120 genotypes that infect the epithelia of the skin or mucosa. Warts are a common dermatological complaint, with an estimated incidence of 5%-20% in children and adults, with peak incidence reported during teenage years. Patients often express a significant reduction in quality of life due to this cosmetic nuisance, as well as functional problems and physical discomfort when they occur on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. Therefore, cutaneous warts are one of the most common pathologies treated by the clinical dermatologist.

Although warts may eventually spontaneously disappear once the immune system finds a way to eradicate the virus, the time taken for this to occur varies and can range from months to years. Managing recalcitrant warts may require more than one treating session. Chemical destruction can be induced with salicylic acid, cantharidin, formaldehyde, or glutaraldehyde, among other agents. Chemotherapeutic agents include podophyllin, podophyllotoxin, 5-fluorouracil, and bleomycin. Allergic contact agents used against recalcitrant warts include dinitrochlorobenzene and squaric acid dibutyl ester. More recently, immunomodulators such as interferon, systemic retinoids, cimetidine, and topical imiquimod have been used. The used methods of physical destruction include surgical excision, electrodesiccation, cryosurgery, and pulsed dye or carbon dioxide laser therapy.

Most of the methods mentioned above have their drawbacks and side effects. Surgical methods have proven somewhat effective but have their disadvantages of pain and long recovery periods and may offer incomplete and superficial results leading to high recurrence rates. Topical management requires the application of drugs for long durations and treatment success is, therefore, highly dependent on patient compliance.

Lasers are new methods of energy-based devices for treating warts. Er:YAG laser (like CO2 laser) is an ablative laser emitting at a wavelength of 2940 nm and highly absorbed by water. It is considered a safe treatment for viral warts, However, in many patients, mainly those with plantar warts, a significant rate of relapse may occur, requiring additional therapy. Recently, the long-pulsed (LP) 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser has attracted attention in the treatment of palmoplantar warts. The mechanism of the LP Nd:YAG laser is different from the Er:YAG laser. It targets the dermal blood vessels that supply infected cells and destroy them via photothermolysis mechanism. However, the limitations of this method are that the treatment usually requires several sessions, and the clearance rate after one session ranges between 14-22%.

This prospective study evaluates the treatment efficacy of an Er:YAG laser alone compared to a combination of Er:YAG followed by LP Nd:YAG after one session of recalcitrant warts. The investigators hypothesize that combining the two mechanisms of ablating the wart and coagulating the blood supply may lead to a higher wart clearance rate after a sole treatment session.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients who were clinically diagnosed with recalcitrant warts after two or more failed treatment lines with Cryotherapy and topical treatments.
• Patients above the age of 8 and under the age of 80.

Exclusion criteria

• The use of topical treatment for wart lesions in the past month.
• Methods of physical destruction of the lesions in the past month such as surgical excision, electrodesiccation, cryosurgery or laser were excluded.
• Patients with single wart lesion were excluded.
• Pregnant and breast- feeding patients.
• Patients on anticoagulant drugs.
• Children below the age of 8.