바이러스성 사마귀 환자에서 나타나는 병변의 경화에 따른 치료반응 분석

Abstract

Background: Verruca vulgaris is a common cutaneous viral infectious disease caused by human papilloma virus (HPV). The main treatment modalities are cryotherapy, salicylic acid, immunotherapy, intralesional injection of bleomycin and laser therapy. Meanwhile, there is no definitive tool for evaluating clinical improvement or treatment response. Objective: This study was designed to evaluate clinical treatment response according to the hardness of skin lesions. I developed a new prediction tool called the ‘hardening sign’ that divides the course of treatment into four grades using inspection and palpation. Methods: I conducted a retrospective medical chart review of patients clinically diagnosed with verruca vulgaris with record of visiting at Hanyang University Guri hospital from January 2016 to January 2017. I divided patients into four groups according to the grade of rigidity of their lesions. Results: 55 patients (28 males and 27 females) were identified. The mean age at diagnosis was 17.6±8.3 years and the mean duration of treatment was 31.3±32.5 weeks. The mean number of hospital visits was 18.1±15.5. I observed significantly shorter durations of treatment in patients with higher grades of hardening. There was no correlation between the hardening grade and the number of treatments performed to achieve a cure. Conclusions: This study suggests that the prediction of therapeutic response of warts can be easily achieved by careful examination for the hardening sign.