title: Double-blind comparison of 2% ketoconazole cream and placebo in the treatment of tinea versicolor.
abstract: Malassezia furfur (Pityrosporum orbiculare) was confirmed by microscopic potassium hydroxide (KOH) examination in 101 patients with recurring lesions of tinea versicolor. In a double-blind comparative study, patients were randomly assigned to once-daily ketoconazole 2% or placebo cream. At the end of treatment, 98% (p less than 0.0001) of the patients using ketoconazole and 28% of those using placebo responded clinically (healed or had mild residual disease). There was an overall 84% mycologic cure rate (negative KOH at treatment end) for patients using ketoconazole 2% cream and 10% for those using placebo cream (p less than 0.0001). Ketoconazole-treated patients who were cured at the end of treatment remained cured 8 weeks later. By contrast 75% of those responding to placebo had relapsed by the 8-week follow-up visit. Follow-up after 2 years revealed that 79% (38/48) of the patients treated with ketoconazole remained clear 12 or more months.
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007654:Ketoconazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009824:Ointments; D011897:Random Allocation; D014010:Tinea Versicolor / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D009824:Ointments; D007654:Ketoconazole