This study is going to test a cold atmospheric plasma device (CAP), in particular a floating electrode-dielectric barrier device (FE-DBD), to treat warts and molluscum. The treatment device in this study generates cold atmospheric plasma (gaseous ionized molecules) to rid the virus from the body. Based on the successes of previous dermatologic studies, FE-DBD is being tested for this study to treat warts and molluscum. Patients will be enrolled to test the efficacy and safety of this device. The duration of the study is 4-12 weeks depending on treatment clearance. The number of lesions will be chosen by the dermatologist. Patients will receive standard of care therapy and/or NTAP depending on the number of lesions.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
17
The treatment device in this study generates cold atmospheric plasma. Cold atmospheric plasma has certain properties of plasma, such as ionized gas molecules. To create plasma, a pulse generator supplying 20 kilovolt pulse of 20-ns pulse width at 200 Hz (FPG10-01NM10, FID GmbH, Burbach, Germany) to a 5-mm diameter quartz-covered copper electrode of 10-cm length and 1 - 13mm quartz thickness. These nanosecond pulse parameters were chosen to provide sufficient treatment dose at the high level of plasma uniformity required to avoid any tissue damage. We will treat the lesions for approximately 1 to 2 minutes each, moving the electrode gently over the treatment area.
Cryotherapy refers to the application of liquid nitrogen using a cryospray device in order to freeze a lesion of interest. Treatment is repeated every few weeks until the lesion of interest has disappeared. It is considered SOC for the treatment of warts.
Chemical compound that acts as a vesicant to form a blister around treatment area. The blister lifts the lesion of interest away from the skin, causing it to slough off in a few days. It is used as SOC for the treatment of Molluscum Contagiosum.
Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina, United States
Numbers of Lesions With no Response
Absence of change in appearance of targeted lesion. Molluscum is defined as the visualization of a central umbilication with polylobular, white to yellow, amorphous structures. A peripheral crown of radiating or punctiform vessels may also be present. Warts are defined as grouped papillae, with dotted or loop vessels, and/or hemorrhagic points and lines often surrounded by a whitish halo.
Time frame: 12 weeks
Numbers of Lesions With Partial Response
There is change in the size, dyspigmentation, or discomfort of the targeted lesion as compared to its appearance and symptoms at the initial visit, but the lesion remains grossly visible. Molluscum is defined as the visualization of a central umbilication with polylobular, white to yellow, amorphous structures. A peripheral crown of radiating or punctiform vessels may also be present. Warts are defined as grouped papillae, with dotted or loop vessels, and/or hemorrhagic points and lines often surrounded by a whitish halo. Changes in the characteristics of the targeted lesions will be evaluated by a dermatologist and documented via photographs at follow-up visits at 4, 8, and 12 weeks, with the final outcome measured at the 12-week visit.
Time frame: 12 weeks
Numbers of Lesions With Complete Response
Targeted lesion is no longer grossly visible.
Time frame: 12 weeks
Post-Treatment CAP Tolerability Questionnaire
This questionnaire measures tolerability of cold atmospheric plasma treatment. Assessment of dryness, peeling, scaling, erythema, edema, stinging, burning sensation, itching, scarring and dyspigmentation will each be assessed individually. Participants were asked about these symptoms at a 1-week post-first treatment phone call, and then at every in-person follow up visit. Outcome data represents the number of total lesions in each treatment group in which a participant reported at least one of the above adverse symptoms. Results of specific AEs are detailed in the Adverse Event section.
Time frame: 12 weeks
Score of Visual Analogue Scale Associated With Treatment
The visual analogue scale (VAS) is a validated subjective measurement of pain experienced by the patient. It consists of visual-numeric scale, numbered from 0-10. (0) indicate absence of pain or "no pain at all", while (10) indicates severe pain or "worst imaginable pain". This is supplemented by six faces with different expressions, ranging from happy to extremely upset. Each facial expression is assigned a numerical scale from 0 to 10.
Time frame: 12 weeks
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