Assessment of Serum 25- Hydroxycholecalciferol Level in Patients with Recalcitrant Palmoplantar Warts

Abstract
Background: Viral warts are benign growths that result from an infection of epidermal or mucosal cells with the human papillomavirus. Epidemiological studies have demonstrated a link between vitamin D deficiency and increased rates of infectious diseases and their resistance to treatment. Such a link between vitamin D level and wart recalcitrance is yet to be revealed. To the best of our knowledge, there were no previous studies conducted to reveal the possible relationship between vitamin D and recalcitrant warts. Aim: To assess serum vitamin D levels in patients with recalcitrant palmoplantar warts. Subjects and Methods:A cross-sectional study conducted on two groups. The first group included 35 patients with recalcitrant palmoplantar warts, the second group included 35 healthy volunteers matched for age, sex. Serum vitamin D level was measured. Results: A total of 78 participants were enrolled in this study, including 30 males and 48 females, distributed among the 3 groups. There was no statistically significant difference in serum vitamin D levels between the studied groups. Its mean level in the recalcitrant group was 26.03 ng/ml, while in the responsive group it was 29.36 ng/ml and reached 25.15ng/ml in the control group. Conclusion: low serum vitamin D levels do not seem to increase the susceptibility of warts to get resistant to treatment.