Adjuvant antiviral therapy for recurrent respiratory papillomatosis
Abstract
Background
Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis is a condition characterised by benign papillomatous (wart‐like) growths in the upper airway. It can affect both adults and children causing airway‐obstruction and voice change. Treatment usually involves repeated surgical debulking of the papillomata, and several agents have been proposed as adjuvants to surgical debulking. These include antivirals, administered systemically or injected into the lesions.
Objectives
To assess the effectiveness of antiviral agents as adjuvant therapy in the management of recurrent respiratory papillomatosis in children and adults.
Search methods
We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (The Cochrane Library, Issue 3, 2004), MEDLINE (January 1966 to November 2004), and EMBASE (January 1985 to November 2004) in December 2004. We checked reference lists of articles, contacted pharmaceutical companies and contacted leading experts in the field for further studies.
Selection criteria
All randomised controlled trials.
Data collection and analysis
One hundred references were identified from the searches. Twenty‐five were appropriate for retrieval and assessed for eligibility by the authors. None met the inclusion criteria.
Main results
No controlled trials were identified.
Authors' conclusions
There was insufficient evidence from controlled trials on which to base reliable conclusions about the effectiveness of antiviral agents as adjuvant therapy in the management of recurrent respiratory papillomatosis. Further research is required before any specific antiviral adjuvant therapy can be recommended.
PICOs
Plain language summary
The review found no good quality trials demonstrating the effectiveness or otherwise of antivirals in recurrent respiratory papillomatosis
Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) is a condition in which wart‐like growths occur in the upper airway of children or adults. This can cause difficulty in breathing or a change in voice. This condition is usually treated by repeated surgery to remove these "warts", but it has been proposed that additionally using antiviral medications may help this condition. This review found no trials of good quality to demonstrate that antivirals are effective in recurrent respiratory papillomatosis. Well‐designed studies are needed.
