Therapeutic efficacy and safety of one-week intermittent therapy with itraconazole for onychomycosis in a Chinese patient population.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a 1-week intermittent itraconazole dosing schedule for onychomycosis.


METHODS
In this multicenter, open-label study, 646 patients received itraconazole 200 mg twice daily for 1 week/month, followed by 3 weeks without therapy. Patients with fingernail infections received 2 treatment cycles, patients with toenail or combined toenail and fingernail infections received 3 cycles. Efficacy was evaluated at week 9 (2-month regimen), week 13 (3-month regimen) and 3, 6 or 9 (toenails only) months after completion of therapy.


RESULTS
Clinical and mycologic cure rates for fingernails were greater than 90% 6 months after completion of 2 treatment cycles. Clinical and mycologic cure rates for toenails were 84 and 98%, respectively, 9 months after completion of 3 cycles. Treatment was well tolerated; adverse events (mostly mild) occurred in 4.6% of patients.


CONCLUSIONS
A 1-week intermittent itraconazole dosing regimen is a safe and effective treatment for onychomycosis.
Wang
D L
DL
Department of Dermatology, First Hospital, Beijing Medical University, Beijing, China.
Wang
A P
AP
Li
R Y
RY
Wang
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000855:Anorexia / Q000139:chemically induced; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002175:Candida / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002681:China; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D017964:Itraconazole / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced; D014009:Onychomycosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014249:Trichophyton / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000139:chemically induced
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D017964:Itraconazole