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Oral itraconazole for the treatment of seborrhoeic dermatitis: an open, noncomparative trial
Author(s) -
Kose O,
Erbil H,
Gur AR
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of the european academy of dermatology and venereology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.655
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1468-3083
pISSN - 0926-9959
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-3083.2005.01090.x
Subject(s) - medicine , itraconazole , desquamation , erythema , capsule , dermatology , seborrhoeic dermatitis , itching , gastroenterology , ketoconazole , antifungal , botany , biology
Background Seborrhoeic dermatitis is an inflammatory cutaneous disorder in which the colonization of the affected area by Malassezia has been proved to play a key role. Objective To perform a noncomparative open clinical study with oral itraconazole capsule (200 mg/day × 7 days) and consecutive usage 200 mg/day for the first 2 days of the following 2 months in patients with seborrhoeic dermatitis. Methods Twenty‐nine patients were enrolled to determine the efficacy and safety of oral itraconazole. The patients were evaluated according to itching, burning, erythema, desquamation and seborrhoea, each scored on a 0–4 scale on days 15 (T15), 30 (T30), 60 (T 60) and 90 (T90). Itraconazole capsule 100 mg was given twice a day for 1 week and then, after a 3‐week interval, patients used itraconazole capsule 200 mg/day for the first 2 days of the following 2 months. The clinical response was graded as markedly effective, effective, moderate or ineffective. Results A clinical improvement (evaluated as markedly effective or effective) was observed in 23 patients (83%) at T15, 21 (76%) at T30, 20 (72%) at T60 and 17 (61%) at T90. At baseline, the mean ± SD total clinical scores were 10.44 ± 2.45, 1.98 ± 0.5, 2.97 ± 1.12, 3.15 ± 1.74 and 3.30 ± 1.90 at T0, T15, T30, T60 and T90, respectively. Compared with baseline values, itraconazole capsule significantly reduced the mean ± SD total score as well as individual erythema and desquamation (Wilcoxon's signed test‐two tailed) ( P < 0.0001). No drug‐related systemic adverse event was observed during the study. Conclusions Seborrhoeic dermatitis shows marked reduction in inflammation when treated with itraconazole. The anti‐inflammatory activity of oral itraconazole and efficacy on Malessezia suggests that itraconazole capsule will be first oral treatment option in future in severe seborrhoeic dermatitis.