Intralesional bleomycin in treatment of plantar warts

To assess the efficacy of intralesional bleomycin in treating plantar warts. Study Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Combined Military Hospital Lahore, from Jan 2015 to Sep 2015. Material and Methods: The study was conducted in Dermatology outpatient department, Combined Military Hospital Lahore, from Jan 2015 to Sep 2015. Total of 60 plantar warts in 20 patients were treated with 1 mg/ml intralesional injection of bleomycin. Patients received a total of four doses of bleomycin every three weeks, and were followed for next three months. We categorized the response to treatment as complete or partial resolution, and nonresponsive. Results: Out of 60 warts 46 warts (76.66%) showed complete resolution and 8 (13.33%) warts showed partial resolution (p<0.001). The cure rate was better in warts smaller than 20 mm in diameter in comparison with larger lesions. After six months follow-up, 3 (15%) of the completely resolved warts showed recurrence. Recurrence was more among those with greater number of warts. Conclusion: Intralesional bleomycin injections were found to be a reliable, safe and acceptable mode of treatment for plantar warts. (author)