Status of oxidative stress on lesional skin surface of plantar warts

Background: Warts are abnormal skin growths caused by human papilloma virus (HPV) infections within the skin of the patients. Sometimes the disease is difficult to treatment, and also, the relationship between HPV and some forms of skin cancers is important. The cutaneous oxidative stress status of warts is absent in the literature.

Objectives: To evaluate the role of oxidative stress in affected skin areas in a group of patients with plantar warts.

Methods: Thirty-six consecutive patients with a diagnosis of plantar warts were enrolled. The samples were obtained by scraping the skin surface. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured spectrophotometrically at samples.

Results: The SOD activity was significantly lower, and the MDA level was significantly higher on the lesional area than on the non-lesional area (P < 0.001 for each), and there was no significant difference in the CAT activity between both areas (P = 0.11).

Conclusion: Cutaneous oxidative stress in patients with plantar warts may play a role in pathogenesis of the disease. The addition of topical drugs with antioxidative effects may be valuable in the treatment of warts.