To the Editor.—
The immune system plays an important role in the control of common viral wart infections. Both serum antibody as well as cell-mediated factors participate in the host's response to the wart virus.1 Extensive persistent verrucae have been associated with immunodeficiency.2,3 Therapy of the aggressive recalcitrant wart infections in immunosuppressed patients is often difficult. Recently, however, good results have been reported in patients with epidermodysplasia verruciformis, sarcoidosis, and leukemia using etretinate.4-7 We describe herein an immunodeficient patient with a large disabling wart on the foot, previously refractory to treatment, who responded to isotretinoin therapy.
Report of a Case.—
In 1975, a 27-year-old man was diagnosed as having Hodgkin's disease and was successfully treated with chemotherapy. Since completion of the initial chemotherapy, he had no evidence of recurrence of disease. About one year following the completion of the chemotherapy he began to develop common warts on