TY - JOUR
T1 - Treatment of moderate to severe facial seborrheic dermatitis with itraconazole
T2 - An open non-comparative study
AU - Shemer, Avner
AU - Kaplan, Baruch
AU - Nathansohn, Nir
AU - Grunwald, Marcelo H.
AU - Amichai, Boaz
AU - Trau, Henri
PY - 2008/8/13
Y1 - 2008/8/13
N2 - Background: Seborrheic dermatitis a common chronic disease. Malassezia yeasts have been implicated in the pathogenesis of this disease. Antifungal agents are known to be effective in the treatment of Malassezia yeast infections. Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of itraconazole in the treatment of mild to severe facial seborrheic dermatitis. Methods: Sixty patients with moderate to severe seborrheic dermatitis were evaluated in an open non-comparative study. Patients were treated with oral itraconazole, initially 200 mg/day for a week, followed by a maintenance therapy of a single dose of 200 mg every 2 weeks. Four clinical parameters (erythema, scaling, burning, itching) were assesed using a 0-3 score. Mycological evaluation determined the presence of Malassezia spores in the scales using a direct smear. Results: At the end a the initial treatment significant improvement was reported in three clinical parameters: erythema, scaling, itching. Maintenance therapy led to only slight further improvement. Burning sensation was only mildly improved during the treatment. The quantity of Malassezia spores present in the direct smear decreased throughout the treatment period. No blood test abnormalities were found during the treatment. Conclusions: In this study initial treatment with itraconazole was beneficial in patients with moderate to severe seborrheic dermatitis.
AB - Background: Seborrheic dermatitis a common chronic disease. Malassezia yeasts have been implicated in the pathogenesis of this disease. Antifungal agents are known to be effective in the treatment of Malassezia yeast infections. Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of itraconazole in the treatment of mild to severe facial seborrheic dermatitis. Methods: Sixty patients with moderate to severe seborrheic dermatitis were evaluated in an open non-comparative study. Patients were treated with oral itraconazole, initially 200 mg/day for a week, followed by a maintenance therapy of a single dose of 200 mg every 2 weeks. Four clinical parameters (erythema, scaling, burning, itching) were assesed using a 0-3 score. Mycological evaluation determined the presence of Malassezia spores in the scales using a direct smear. Results: At the end a the initial treatment significant improvement was reported in three clinical parameters: erythema, scaling, itching. Maintenance therapy led to only slight further improvement. Burning sensation was only mildly improved during the treatment. The quantity of Malassezia spores present in the direct smear decreased throughout the treatment period. No blood test abnormalities were found during the treatment. Conclusions: In this study initial treatment with itraconazole was beneficial in patients with moderate to severe seborrheic dermatitis.
KW - Itraconazole
KW - Seborrheic dermatitis
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=48949083715&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
C2 - 18669136
AN - SCOPUS:48949083715
SN - 1565-1088
VL - 10
SP - 417
EP - 418
JO - Israel Medical Association Journal
JF - Israel Medical Association Journal
IS - 6
ER -