Natural Thermal Spa Water Versus Hyperthermic Tap Water for Treatment of Recalcitrant Hand Warts in Organ Transplant Recipients: A Patient-Blinded, Comparative Preliminary Study

Abstract

Objectives: Cutaneous warts represent a major problem in organ transplant recipients because of their extensive involvement and persistent course. Current therapeutic modalities often fail to achieve a successful response in patients with warts. We experienced a case involving an organ transplant recipient with recalcitrant mosaic warts who presented with complete clearance of lesions in 3 days after thermal spa bathing. Here, we evaluated the efficacy of natural thermal water versus hyperthermic tap water for treatment of recalcitrant hand warts in organ transplant recipients.

Materials and Methods: In this preliminary study, the right hands of 5 organ transplant recipients with hand warts were immersed in thermal water, while the left hands were soaked in tap water at 44 degrees C to 47 degrees C. Treatment involved three 45-minute sessions per week for 1 month. The total number and size of the warts and the hyperkeratosis severity grade were noted.

Results: After 12 sessions, none of the patients exhibited any marked improvement in the size or number of warts, although 3 patients had a slight decrease in their hyperkeratosis severity grade.

Conclusions: Our preliminary data indicate that neither thermal spa water nor hyperthermic tap water is effective for treatment of recalcitrant hand warts in organ transplant recipients. However, new trials using thermal water supplied from different geographical locations should be performed before this observation can be generalized.