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Efficacy of Itraconazole in the Prophylactic Treatment of Pityriasis (Tinea) Versicolor
Jan Faergemann, MD, PhD;
A. K. Gupta, MD, FRCPC;
A. Al Mofadi, MD, FRCPC;
A. Abanami, MD, FRCP(Edin);
A. Abu Shareaah, MD;
Greet Marynissen, PhD
Arch Dermatol. 2002;138:69-73.
Background Pityriasis (tinea) versicolor has a high tendency to recur after being
treated successfully. Prophylactic treatment to reduce recurrence is needed.
Objective To determine whether recurrence of pityriasis versicolor could be prevented
by prophylactic itraconazole treatment.
Design Open treatment followed by a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled
phase.
Setting Multinational outpatient centers.
Patients A total of 239 consecutive patients were included; 238 started open
treatment. A total of 209 patients started prophylactic treatment: 106 in
the itraconazole group and 103 in the placebo group.
Interventions Open treatment: itraconazole, 200 mg once daily for 7 days. Prophylactic
treatment: itraconazole, 200 mg, or placebo twice daily 1 day per month for
6 consecutive months.
Main Outcome Measures Mycological cure rates at the end of open treatment and at the end of
prophylactic treatment.
Results Mycological cure at the end of open treatment was 92% (205/223). At
the prophylactic treatment end point (6 months), mycological cure was 88%
(90/102) in the itraconazole group and 57% (56/99) in the placebo group (P<.001). In open treatment, 11 patients were not able
to be evaluated for efficacy. In prophylactic treatment, 4 patients in the
itraconazole group and 4 in the placebo group were not able to be evaluated.
Adverse events were reported during open treatment by 26 patients (11%) and
during prophylactic treatment by 17 (16%) in the itraconazole group and 14
(14%) in the placebo group. No patients experienced any serious adverse events.
Conclusions Prophylactic itraconazole treatment is efficacious for pityriasis versicolor
after 6 months, as is itraconazole in the treatment of pityriasis versicolor.
From the Department of Dermatology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital,
Gothenburg, Sweden (Dr Faergemann); the Division of Dermatology, Department
of Medicine, Sunnybrook and Women's College, Health Sciences Center, Sunnybrook,
and the University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario (Dr Gupta); the Division of
Dermatology, King Fahad National Guard Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Dr
Al Mofadi); the Departments of Dermatology, Riyadh Armed Forces Hospital,
Riyadh (Dr Abanami) and Mafraque Hospital, Ministry of Health, Abu Dubai,
United Arab Emirates (Dr Abu Shareaah); and Medisearch International, Mechelen,
Belgium (Dr Marynissen).
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