Comparison of topical potassium hydroxide 5% solution with cryotherapy in the treatment of patients with genital warts: A randomized controlled clinical trial.

Background: Given the therapeutic challenge of wart treatment and the need for an ideal treatment that is effective, noninvasive, cost-effective, and has minimal side effects, this study aims to compare the local impact of a 5% potassium hydroxide (KOH) solution with cryotherapy, the current standard treatment for genital warts.

Methods: Two groups, each consisting of 49 patients: the first group was treated with a daily topical application of 5% KOH solution using a swab, while the second group underwent cryotherapy in two 5-20 s freeze-thaw cycles. Before treatment, patient demographic data and number of lesions were recorded. Follow-up visits were conducted at four-week intervals for 12 weeks, during which the number of lesions, time to complete recovery, and skin-related side effects were examined and recorded, ensuring comprehensive data collection.

Results: A total of 98 patients (average age: 28.40 ± 7.34 years), 55 cases (55.1%) being female and 43 cases (43.9%) being male. Importantly, there was no significant difference in terms of gender (p = .684), education (p = .533), and marital status (p = .703) between the two study groups. Further, no significant difference in previous infection history (p = .493) and partner infection (p = .098) was identified. There was no significant difference in terms of treatment response (p = .510) and relapse (p < .999) between the two KOH and cryotherapy study groups.

Conclusion: The study found no significant differences in treatment response, relapse rates, or side effects between using 5% potassium hydroxide solution and cryotherapy for genital wart treatment. These findings suggest that both modalities offer comparable efficacy and safety profiles, providing clinicians with valuable options in tailoring treatment approaches for patients with genital warts.