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Efficacy of imiquimod 3.75% from Lmax according to the number of actinic keratosis lesions
Author(s) -
Peris K.,
Stockfleth E.,
Gupta G.,
Aractingi S.,
Dakovic R.,
Dirschka T.,
Alomar A.
Publication year - 2015
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/jdv.12782
Subject(s) - medicine , imiquimod , actinic keratosis , lesion , dermatology , keratosis , scalp , placebo , gastroenterology , surgery , pathology , alternative medicine , basal cell
Abstract Background Imiquimod 3.75% reduces 92.2% of all actinic keratosis ( AK ) lesions, assumed to include both subclinical and clinical lesions, across a large sun‐exposed field such as the full face or balding scalp. Objective To evaluate the efficacy of imiquimod 3.75% using the reduction in lesions from Lmax (the maximum lesion count during treatment) in subgroups of patients with low and high AK lesion counts. Methods Patients from two 14‐week, placebo‐controlled, double‐blind studies were subgrouped according to whether they had ≤10 or >10 AK lesions at baseline. Treatment was applied to the full face or balding scalp during two 2‐week treatment cycles separated by a 2‐week treatment‐free interval. Results Overall, 167 patients had ≤10 lesions and 152 patients had >10 AK lesions at baseline. With imiquimod 3.75%, the median percentage reduction in AK lesions from Lmax to end of study was similar in patients with ≤10 and >10 baseline lesions (91.5% and 93.0% respectively). The median absolute reduction in AK lesions from Lmax to end of study was 24.0 for patients with >10 baseline lesions and 10.0 for those with ≤10 baseline lesions. The median percentage and absolute reductions in lesions from Lmax were significantly greater with imiquimod 3.75% vs. placebo ( P < 0.0001). Conclusions Imiquimod 3.75% is effective regardless of disease severity as shown in this study by the reduction of over 90% of lesions from Lmax in patients with low or high AK lesion counts.