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Intermittent pulse therapy with itraconazole for onychomycosis. Experience in Hong Kong Chinese
Author(s) -
Wenjing Tang,
Lai Yin Chong,
Chi-Chiu Leung,
Hing-Fung Ho,
Tze-Wai Wong
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
mycoses
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.13
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 1439-0507
pISSN - 0933-7407
DOI - 10.1046/j.1439-0507.2000.00551.x
Subject(s) - itraconazole , medicine , dermatology , cure rate , surgery , antifungal
Forty‐four Hong Kong Chinese adults comprising 10 cases of fingernail and 42 cases of toenail onychomycosis were recruited for a 3‐weekly itraconazole pulse therapy. Each pulse consisted of seven consecutive daily 400 mg doses with a 3‐week interval between treatments. All patients in the fingernail group and 37 in the toenail group completed the study. The clinical cure, clinical response and mycological cure rates at week 36 were 70, 90 and 90% for fingernail and 35, 81 and 68% for toenail groups, respectively. Side‐effects including biochemical abnormalities were minimal, and returned to normal upon cessation of treatment. We conclude that itraconazole pulse therapy is very effective, safe and well‐tolerated for fingernail and toenail onychomycosis.