Cantharidin is superior to trichloroacetic acid for the treatment of non-mucosal genital warts: A pilot randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Condyloma acuminatum is a sexually transmitted viral disease caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). It is the most common viral sexually transmitted disease. In this randomized controlled trial, cantharidin was found to be more effective and better tolerated than trichloro-acetic acid (TCA) for the treatment of these lesions. Patients treated with cantharidin healed with less scarring than those treated with TCA (p < 0.034), had less pain during treatment (p < 0.01), and required fewer treatments to eradicate warts (p < 0.01) when compared to trichloroacetic acid.