Imiquimod

General information

Imiquimod is an immune response enhancer that induces production of interferon and several other cytokines. It is used, in formulations containing 5%, to treat external genital and perianal warts/condylomata acuminata in adults [ ]. As imiquimod-treated warts regress, serum concentrations of interferon-alfa, interferon-beta, interferon-gamma, and tumor necrosis factor rise [ ]. Trials of imiquimod have failed to identify any particular systemic or laboratory abnormalities.

In one study, there was no deleterious effect on disease progression in HIV-infected patients, and the incidence of local adverse events with imiquimod (5% three times a week) for the treatment of anogenital warts was lower than has previously been reported in healthy individuals [ ]. In an uncontrolled trial of topical imiquimod 5% for the treatment of common warts and molluscum contagiosum in otherwise healthy patients, fever, healing with scarring, and healing with hyperpigmentation were each reported by one participant [ ].