IFN-γ may serve as a good predictor of its therapeutic response
FRIDAY, Aug. 18, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Candida antigen is a promising, effective, and safe immunotherapeutic treatment for common warts, according to a study published online Aug. 8 in the International Journal of Dermatology.
Ahmad Nofal, M.D., from Zagazig University in Egypt, and colleagues evaluated the efficacy and safety of Candida antigen for the treatment of common warts and the significance of interferon gamma (IFN-γ) in the prediction of successful therapy. Blood samples were collected from 54 patients with multiple common warts before therapy, cultured, and treated with Candida antigen for evaluation of IFN-γ. Direct injections of Candida antigen were made into the largest wart at two-week intervals until complete clearance or for a maximum of five treatments.
The researchers found that complete clearance of the lesions was seen in 61.1 percent of the studied patients. Among cases that responded, IFN-γ was statistically higher, compared to that seen in non-responders. No significant adverse effects or recurrence of warts was observed.
“Candida antigen is a promising, effective, and safe immunotherapeutic modality for common warts, and IFN-γ may serve as a good predictor of its therapeutic response,” the authors write.
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