Acitretin, a synthetic retinoid, has been used to treat patients with psoriasis, Darier's disease, ichthyosis, keratosis pilaris etc. Some trials have suggested that oral acitretin may be useful for the treatment of warts.

The purpose was to determine whether oral acitretin is effective in the treatment of multiple and recalcitrant warts.

25 patients with multiple and recalcitrant warts were enrolled. We administered acitretin, 30 mg daily in adults, and 0.5 mg/kg daily in children. At the end of the treatment, 21 patients were examined to determine the efficacy of the treatment.

Of the 21 patients, 10 patients (48%) showed a complete response, 3 (14%) showed a moderate response, 4 (19%) showed a partial response, and 4 (19%) showed no response. Therefore, the patients showing more than a moderate response were 62% (13 of 21). An abnormal laboratory finding was not detected and adverse effects were common but tolerable in most patients.

Oral acitretin may be useful for the treatment of extensive and reclacitrant warts, especially verruca plantaris.