title: Clotrimazole treatment of recurrent and chronic candida vulvovaginitis.
abstract: The management of women with recurrent and chronic vulvovaginal candidiasis continues to present a therapeutic challenge. In a prospective double-blind randomized study of 42 women with recurrent candidal vaginitis, clotrimazole 500-mg vaginal suppositories, administered once weekly for 2 weeks, induced clinical remission in 38 patients (90.4%) and achieved mycologic negative status in 83% of subjects. Thereafter, asymptomatic patients were randomized to receive monthly prophylactic vaginal tablets of clotrimazole 500 mg or placebo once a month. During the prophylactic phase, patients receiving placebo developed recurrences of symptomatic candida vaginitis at an extremely high rate, such that only one-third remained asymptomatic at the end of 6 months. In comparison, patients receiving clotrimazole demonstrated moderate protection from recurrence; which was maximal and statistically significant during the first 3 months of prophylaxis only (P less than .05). During the prophylactic period overall, attack rates were reduced by one-third with clotrimazole. No adverse reactions were observed with the administration of clotrimazole. In summary, clotrimazole therapy was successful in inducing an initial therapeutic response, but achieved only a modest long-term protective effect. Additional clinical benefit may be possible with more frequent clotrimazole prophylactic administration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Hutzel Hospital, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Sobel
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schmitt
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meriwether
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002181:Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002908:Chronic Disease; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003022:Clotrimazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010570:Pessaries; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011897:Random Allocation; D012008:Recurrence
chemical_list: D007093:Imidazoles; D003022:Clotrimazole