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This is a plain English summary of an original research article. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and reviewer(s) at the time of publication.
Podophyllotoxin 0.5% solution followed by carbon dioxide laser therapy only if unsuccessful may be the best treatment approach for anal and genital warts. Either of these treatments can successfully clear warts in over three quarters of people.
The podophyllotoxin 0.5% solution can be applied to the warts twice a day for three days at home. Further courses can be applied if necessary after a break of four days. Alternatively, carbon dioxide laser therapy is performed under local or general anaesthetic. Soreness and irritation is common after laser therapy but it is effective and also more useful for warts in less accessible places.
The results of this review suggest a potential first-line treatment strategy of podophyllotoxin 0.5% solution followed by carbon dioxide laser therapy if needed. This may simplify treatment selection, but in light of the limited evidence available, patient characteristics and preference are still likely to guide treatment. Current guidance from the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV recommends that treatment decisions are based upon factors such as gender and number of warts.
Why was this study needed?
Anogenital warts are small growths caused by the human papillomavirus that appear in and around the genital or anal area. They are the second most common type of sexually transmitted infection in England, after chlamydia. In 2012, there were 73,893 new cases of genital warts diagnosed by sexual health clinics in England. In 2013, they accounted for 16 out of 100 new sexually transmitted infections.
Although usually painless, they can cause discomfort and distress. Warts may clear up without treatment, but the chances of this happening are uncertain. Delay may worsen the condition and increase the risk of transmission.
Several topical treatments such as creams and solutions are available, as are a range of physical removal options. However, about half of patients experience recurrence within one year, so repeat treatment is often required. This overview aimed to summarise the evidence of effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of treatments for anogenital warts.
What did this study do?
This systematic review included 60 randomised controlled trials and 41 economic evaluations of interventions to clear anogenital warts. Interventions included topical treatments, surgical removal, cryotherapy (freezing the wart) and carbon dioxide laser therapy. Treatments were compared using network meta-analysis, pooling not only direct evidence from “head-to-head” trials, but also comparing indirectly across trials.
An economic model was developed to determine cost-effectiveness at 58 weeks. This allowed for a treatment and follow-up period, and included first- and second-line treatments for persistent warts. A total of 84 treatment strategies were assessed.
Most studies were poorly reported and at unclear risk of bias. Despite identifying 60 effectiveness studies, most comparisons involved only single randomised controlled trials. Only nine studies were published within the last 10 years and study populations differed between trials. As such the results should be treated with some caution. However further trials are unlikely to be possible and this study represents the most reliable evidence to guide treatment.
What did it find?
- Carbon dioxide laser therapy was the most effective therapy with a 97.1% probability of achieving complete clearance by the end of treatment (95% credible interval (CrI) 84.8% to 99.9%).
- Podophyllotoxin 0.5% solution was the second most effective therapy, with a complete clearance probability of 92.6% (95% CrI 81.8% to 98.4%).
- Most other treatments improved the likelihood of complete clearance when compared with inactive placebo or no treatment with little difference in effectiveness between them.
- Recurrence rates were lowest for carbon dioxide laser therapy and surgical excision but high for all treatments, ranging from 23.4% to 66.9% at up to six months, with no statistical differences between treatments.
- Podophyllotoxin 0.5% solution as first-line treatment, followed by carbon dioxide laser therapy if required, had a probability of 80.7% of being the most cost-effective approach (at a willingness to pay of £20,000 to 30,000 per additional QALY gained). The next most cost-effective strategy was podophyllotoxin 0.5% solution followed by surgical removal but this was estimated to be over the willingness to pay threshold.
- The estimated average cost per treatment strategy ranged from £199 (podophyllotoxin 0.5% solution followed by carbon dioxide laser therapy) to £700 (podophyllin 20 to 25% followed by cryotherapy) per patient.
What does current guidance say on this issue?
Current guidance produced by the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV provides examples of treatment algorithms for the management of anogenital warts in women and men. It recommends several treatments depending on shape, number, location and distribution of warts, as well as patient preference.
What are the implications?
Treatments that physically remove the warts, such as carbon dioxide laser therapy or surgical removal, may be a cost-effective option if used following the failure of cheaper topical treatments, such as podophyllotoxin 0.5% solution. These findings may help to inform decision making in clinical practice, given the wide range of treatments covered by current guidelines. However, patient characteristics, prior treatment history and preference are also likely to guide the most appropriate treatment option.
The uptake of HPV vaccination is likely to have an impact on the frequency of genital warts in the community and the main treatments for this condition appear to have high clearance rates at reasonable cost.
Citation and Funding
Thurgar E, Barton S, Karner C, Edwards SJ. Clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of interventions for the treatment of anogenital warts: systematic review and economic evaluation. Health Technol Assess. 2016;20(24):1-486.
This project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research HTA programme (project number 12/44/01).
Bibliography
CKS. Warts – anogenital. London; National Institute for Health and Care Excellence: 2012.
Clinical Effectiveness Group. UK National Guidelines on the Management of Anogenital Warts 2015. Macclesfield: British Association for Sexual Health and HIV; 2015.
NHS Choices. Genital warts. London: NHS; 2014.
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