The efficacy and safety of other cryotherapy compounds for the treatment of genital warts: a randomized controlled trial

Background: Cryotherapy using Wartner compound that contains a mixture of dimethyl ether (75%) and propane (25%) has been recently reported as an effective treatment for warts. The present study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Wartner in male patients with genital warts.

Methods: A Phase II parallel-randomized clinical trial was performed on 16 Iranian men affected by genital warts who were referred to a dermatology clinic at Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Two genital warts of each patient were selected and randomly assigned to receive either Wartner (intervention) or liquid nitrogen (control).

Results: Two weeks after the treatment, the sizes of the lesions in control and intervention groups decreased by 17.87?±?2.14 mm2 and 15.81?±?1.80 mm2, respectively (p=.299). Fourteen days after a single session of treatment, 81% of lesions in the control group and 50% in the Wartner group were completely eradicated, however, the difference was not statistically significant (p=.063).

Conclusions: The Wartner compound is as effective as the conventional cryotherapy method for treating genital warts. It is particularly valuable when there are contraindications or no access to common treatment options.