Liquid Nitrogen Cryotherapy Versus CO₂ Laser for Palmoplantar Warts

NCT07881198 — Not applicable, Recruiting, 88 participants, Bkahtawar Amin Medical and Dental College Multan

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Comparison of Efficacy of Liquid Nitrogen Cryotherapy Versus CO2 Laser in Patients With Palmoplantar Warts

Registry	NCT07881198
Status	Recruiting
Phase	Not applicable
Study type	Interventional; randomized, parallel, masking: single, treatment
Enrollment	88 (Estimated)
Sponsor	Bkahtawar Amin Medical and Dental College Multan (Other)
Conditions	Palmoplantar Warts
Interventions	Liquid Nitrogen Cryotherapy, Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) Laser Therapy (Procedure)
Dates	start 2026-06-04, primary completion 2026-12-03 (estimated), completion 2026-12-03 (estimated), first posted 2026-10-19, last updated 2026-10-19
Locations	1 site in Pakistan

-Summary

This randomized clinical trial will compare the effectiveness of liquid nitrogen cryotherapy and carbon dioxide (CO₂) laser therapy for treating palmoplantar warts, which are human papillomavirus-related skin growths occurring on the palms and soles.

The main question the study aims to answer is:

\- Does CO₂ laser therapy achieve complete wart clearance more frequently than liquid nitrogen cryotherapy after 12 weeks of treatment?

The study will include 88 adults aged 18-50 years with palmoplantar warts. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups:

* Group A: Liquid nitrogen cryotherapy at -196°C, using two freeze-thaw cycles once weekly for up to 8 weeks.
* Group B: CO₂ laser therapy administered weekly for up to 8 weeks.

Participants will be assessed at week 12 after treatment initiation by a consultant dermatologist who will not know which treatment they received. Treatment response will be classified as complete clearance (no remaining warts), partial response (fewer warts than at baseline), or no response (the same or an increased number of warts). The researchers will compare the proportion of participants achieving complete wart clearance between the two groups. Adverse effects, including blistering, ulceration, and infection, will also be recorded during treatment.

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+Arms and interventions

Arm	Type	Interventions	Description
Liquid Nitrogen Cryotherapy	Active comparator	Procedure: Liquid Nitrogen Cryotherapy	Participants will receive liquid nitrogen cryotherapy at -196°C
CO₂ Laser Therapy	Experimental	Procedure: Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) Laser Therapy	Participants will receive carbon dioxide (CO₂) laser therapy

Liquid Nitrogen Cryotherapy (Procedure): Participants will be administered using two freeze-thaw cycles once weekly for a maximum of 8 weeks to treat palmoplantar warts.
Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) Laser Therapy (Procedure): Participants will be administered once weekly for a maximum of 8 weeks to treat palmoplantar warts.

+Outcome measures

Primary outcomes

Treatment Efficacy [From enrollment through the final assessment at 12-weeks (including 8 weeks of treatment)]: Proportion of participants achieving complete clearance of palmoplantar warts, defined as the absence of any wart lesions at the 12-week assessment compared with baseline.

+Eligibility

Sex: All, ages: 18 Years to 50 Years

Inclusion Criteria:

* Clinically diagnosed palmoplantar warts

Exclusion Criteria:

* Diabetes mellitus
* Peripheral neuropathies
* HIV
* Taking treatment (topical or laser) in last 8 weeks.

+Locations (1)

Facility	City	Country	Status
Bkahtawar Amin Medical and Dental College Multan	Multan, Punjab Province	Pakistan	Recruiting

+Investigators

Muhammad F Associate Professor, FCPS, Study chair, Bkahtawar Amin Medical and Dental College Multan