Liquid Nitrogen Cryotherapy Versus CO₂ Laser for Palmoplantar Warts
This randomized clinical trial will compare the effectiveness of liquid nitrogen cryotherapy and carbon dioxide (CO₂) laser therapy for treating palmoplantar warts, which are human papillomavirus-related skin growths occurring on the palms and soles.
The main question the study aims to answer is:
\- Does CO₂ laser therapy achieve complete wart clearance more frequently than liquid nitrogen cryotherapy after 12 weeks of treatment?
The study will include 88 adults aged 18-50 years with palmoplantar warts. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups:
* Group A: Liquid nitrogen cryotherapy at -196°C, using two freeze-thaw cycles once weekly for up to 8 weeks.
* Group B: CO₂ laser therapy administered weekly for up to 8 weeks.
Participants will be assessed at week 12 after treatment initiation by a consultant dermatologist who will not know which treatment they received. Treatment response will be classified as complete clearance (no remaining warts), partial response (fewer warts than at baseline), or no response (the same or an increased number of warts). The researchers will compare the proportion of participants achieving complete wart clearance between the two groups. Adverse effects, including blistering, ulceration, and infection, will also be recorded during treatment.
Gender: All
Ages: 18 Years - 50 Years
