title: Treatment of toenail onychomycosis. A randomized, double-blind study with terbinafine and griseofulvin. LAGOS II Study Group.
abstract: METHODS
  The fungicidal mode of action of terbinafine should make it feasible to reduce treatment duration in onychomycosis. For this reason, a randomized, double-blind study in 195 patients with severe dermatophyte infections of the toenails was performed comparing a 24-week treatment with terbinafine (250 mg/d) with a 48-week treatment with micronized griseofulvin (1000 mg/d).
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 48 weeks, effective treatment was achieved in 67% of the patients treated with terbinafine and in 56% of those treated with griseofulvin (two-tailed P = .120). At a follow-up visit 24 weeks later, cure rates had decreased to 60% in the terbinafine group and to 39% in the griseofulvin group (two-tailed P = .006). At the same time, the mycological cure rate was 81% with terbinafine and 62% with griseofulvin (two-tailed P = .02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study has demonstrated the longterm therapeutic superiority of terbinafine to high-dose griseofulvin in the treatment of toenail mycosis. Furthermore, with the new antifungal terbinafine, treatment is no longer necessary until all affected nail material has grown out.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Technical University Mũnchen, Germany.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hofmann
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bräutigam
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Weidinger
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zaun
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006118:Griseofulvin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014009:Onychomycosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010105:Oxygenases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D000077291:Terbinafine; D014034:Toes
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D009281:Naphthalenes; D006118:Griseofulvin; D010105:Oxygenases; D000077291:Terbinafine