Imiquimod: potential risk of an immunostimulant. [Australas J Dermatol. 2004]

SearchDatabase nameforSearch term

Advanced Search (beta)

Your browser version may not work well with NCBI's Web applications. More information here...

Display Show

All: 1

Review: 0

Click to change filter selection through MyNCBI.

1: Australas J Dermatol. 2004 May;45(2):123-4. Links

Imiquimod: potential risk of an immunostimulant.

Benson E.

Department of Immunopathology, ICPMR, Westmead Hospital and Department of Medicine, University of Sydney, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales 2145, Australia. elizab@westgate.wh.usyd.edu.au

A 19-year-old woman with severe HLA B27 spondyloarthropathy whose disease was controlled on cyclosporin, methotrexate and prednisolone had human papillomavirus infection and developed cervical dysplasia and a large number of cutaneous and vulval warts. These were not responsive to cryotherapy, salicylic acid or cimetidine, so she was treated with topical imiquimod 5% cream. Two weeks after starting this treatment she had a significant flare of her spondyloarthropathy. She was so ill that she stopped using the imiquimod cream. She had full resolution of her warts after 3 weeks' treatment with imiquimod cream, but her spondyloarthropathy took more than 3 months to improve, despite significant augmentation of her immunosuppression. This case highlights the potential risk of using imiquimod cream (an immunostimulant) in a patient who has a condition requiring immunosuppression, such as autoimmune disease or an organ transplant.

PMID: 15068461 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Management of female genital warts with an analog of imiquimod 2% in cream: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. [J Dermatol. 1998]
Imiquimod cream 5% for recalcitrant cutaneous warts in immunosuppressed individuals. [Br J Dermatol. 2005]
Randomized, comparative trial on the sustained efficacy of topical imiquimod 5% cream versus conventional ablative methods in external anogenital warts. [Eur J Dermatol. 2006]
Treatment of non-genital warts with topical imiquimod 5% cream. [Eur J Dermatol. 2002]
Efficacy of imiquimod 5% cream in the treatment of recalcitrant warts in children. [Pediatr Dermatol. 2002]
» See all Related Articles...

Patient Drug Information

Methotrexate (Rheumatrex®, Trexall®) Your doctor has ordered methotrexate to help treat your illness. Methotrexate comes as a tablet to take by mouth. Your doctor will tell you how often you should take methotrexate. The schedule depends on the condition y...

» read more ...
Cimetidine (Tagamet®, Tagamet® HB, Tagamet® Tiltab®) Cimetidine is used to treat ulcers; gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a condition in which backward flow of acid from the stomach causes heartburn and injury of the food pipe (esophagus); and conditions where the s...

» read more ...
Salicylic Acid Topical (Akurza® Cream, Akurza® Lotion, Clearasil products, ...) Topical salicylic acid is used to help clear and prevent pimples and skin blemishes in people who have acne. Topical salicylic acid is also used to treat skin conditions that involve scaling or overgrowth of skin cells s...

» read more ...

» See all 4 Drug Reports ...

Display Show

Imiquimod: potential risk of an immunostimulant.

Related Articles