Local and systemic adverse effects to topical imiquimod due to systemic immune stimulation

Abstract

Imiquimod is a topical immune-response modifier with antitumour and antiviral properties. These actions of imiquimod are dependent on focal activation of the immune system and the overall shift in the cytokine profile results in promotion of type 1 T helper cell (Th1) response and inhibition of type 2 T helper cell (Th2) response.1 We observed a few patients who had headache, arthralgias and fever while on treatment with imiquimod, which prompted us to conduct this prospective study regarding the safety and tolerability of imiquimod in patients with genital warts. In this prospective, intent-to-treat study, 22 immunocompetent men with genital warts were enrolled over a period …