Failure of treatment in chronic dermatophyte infections.
A proportion of dermatophyte infections fail to respond to normally adequate courses of griseofulvin and topical antifungal therapy. The organism Trichophyton rubrum was isolated from 96% of 50 patients studied, but no instances of in vitro resistance were seen. Of these patients, 57% had an underlying condition, commonly hay fever/asthma, atopic eczema, collagen disease or ichthyosis. Defective delayed type hypersensitivity responses and leucocyte migration inhibition to the specific antigen, trichophytin, were demonstrated. Immediate type hypersensitivity was seen in 58% and this was partially suppressible with chlorpheniramine and cimetidine. The relationship between these abnormalities and failure of treatment is discussed.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002464:Cell Migration Inhibition; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003095:Collagen Diseases / Q000150:complications; D003881:Dermatomycoses / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006118:Griseofulvin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000150:complications; D007057:Ichthyosis / Q000150:complications; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014249:Trichophyton
D006118:Griseofulvin