title: Tinea corporis/cruris: new treatment options.
abstract: We undertook a prospective, multicentre, double-blind, placebo controlled, randomised, parallel-group study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the topical 1% emulsion gel formulation of Lamisil in the treatment of tinea corporis/cruris. Eighty-three patients with clinically and mycologically confirmed tinea corporis/cruris were enrolled from 6 dermatology practices. Of the 62 patients in the intent-to-treat population, 29 were randomised to 1% Lamisil emulsion gel (23 male, 6 female; mean age 42 years, range 19-79 years) and 33 to placebo (25 male, 8 female; mean age 36 years, range 16-73 years). The gels were applied once daily for 1 week. Mycological cure (negative microscopy and culture results) and effectiveness of treatment (mycological cure plus no or minimal signs and symptoms) were measured on day 7, weeks 2, 4 and 8, and at the end of the study. At the study end, rates mycological cure were 83% for Lamisil 1% emulsion gel and 27% for placebo gel (p < 0.001), with respective rates for effective treatment of 83 and 21% (p < 0.001). Complete cure was recorded for 59% of patients receiving Lamisil 1% emulsion gel and 13% of patient receiving placebo gel (p < 0.001). We conclude that a 1-week course of Lamisil 1% emulsion gel is significantly more effective in the treatment of tinea corporis/cruris than placebo gel in respect of complete cure, mycological cure and effective treatment.
authors.affiliation: Programme on Mycotoxins and Experimental Carcinogens, Medical Research Council, Tygerberg, South Africa.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: van Heerden
authors.forename: H F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Vismer
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000077291:Terbinafine; D014005:Tinea / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D009281:Naphthalenes; D000077291:Terbinafine