Cimetidine therapy for recalcitrant warts in adults: is it any better than placebo?

Author(s): Rogers CJ, Gibney MD, Siegfried EC, Harrison BR, Glaser DA

Affiliation(s): Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Missouri, USA.

Publication date & source: 1999-07, J Am Acad Dermatol., 41(1):123-7.

Publication type: Clinical Trial; Randomized Controlled Trial

Three open-label, uncontrolled studies have documented successful treatment of warts with cimetidine, whereas two placebo-controlled, double-blind studies and two open-label comparative trials have failed to demonstrate efficacy. This double-blind, placebo-controlled study was designed with stringent enrollment and outcome criteria to minimize the confounding issue of spontaneous remission. Efficacy was not statistically superior to that of placebo, but a trend toward efficacy was suggested for younger subjects.