ABSTRACT
Imiquimod (Aldara Cream, 3M Pharmaceuticals, St Paul, MN) is a topical immune response modifier that was approved by the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) in 1997 for the treatment of external genital warts. Its development was inspired by successful studies with injectable interferon- , a protein secreted by the body’s innate defense system that enhances the destruction of virally infected cells. The goal was to create an immunomodulating drug that could be self-applied at home, thereby reducing costly, frequent, and potentially embarrassing surgery visits. Since its introduction, imiquimod has been used not only for anogenital warts, but also for verruca plana, molluscum contagiosum, herpes simplex, basal cell carcinomas, actinic keratoses, lentigo maligna, and acute tattoo removal. This chapter focuses on imiquimod and its role in homebased wart therapy.
