title: A double-blind, multicenter, parallel-group trial with 0.05% halobetasol propionate ointment versus 0.1% diflucortolone valerate ointment in patients with severe, chronic atopic dermatitis or lichen simplex chronicus.
abstract: In a double-blind, parallel-group, multicenter, comparative trial in 120 evaluable patients with chronic, localized atopic dermatitis or lichen simplex chronicus, the success rate (described as "healed" and "marked improvement") was 91.5% in patients treated with halobetasol propionate ointment and 83.6% in those in the diflucortolone valerate treatment group. Of patients treated with halobetasol propionate ointment, 40.7% reported healing within 17 days, whereas of those in the diflucortolone valerate treatment group, 32.8% reported healing within that time. Early onset of therapeutic effect, that is, within 3 days of the start of treatment, was reported in a higher percentage of patients treated with halobetasol propionate ointment than in those treated with diflucortolone valerate ointment (70% versus 59%). Adverse effects at the site of application were less frequently reported in patients belonging to the halobetasol propionate treatment group than in those treated with diflucortolone valerate ointment (3% versus 8%).
authors.affiliation: Ciba-Geigy Limited, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Brunner
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yawalkar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001317:Austria; D002908:Chronic Disease; D002990:Clobetasol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004060:Diflucortolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009450:Neurodermatitis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009824:Ointments; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012074:Remission Induction; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D009824:Ointments; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; C013486:diflucortolone valerate; C064466:halobetasol; D002990:Clobetasol; D004060:Diflucortolone