title: Intermittent pulse therapy with itraconazole for onychomycosis. Experience in Hong Kong Chinese.
abstract: Forty-four Hong Kong Chinese adults comprising 10 cases of fingernail and 42 cases of toenail onychomycosis were recruited for a 3-weekly itraconazole pulse therapy. Each pulse consisted of seven consecutive daily 400 mg doses with a 3-week interval between treatments. All patients in the fingernail group and 37 in the toenail group completed the study. The clinical cure, clinical response and mycological cure rates at week 36 were 70, 90 and 90% for fingernail and 35, 81 and 68% for toenail groups, respectively. Side-effects including biochemical abnormalities were minimal, and returned to normal upon cessation of treatment. We conclude that itraconazole pulse therapy is very effective, safe and well-tolerated for fingernail and toenail onychomycosis.
authors.affiliation: Social Hygiene Service, Department of Health, Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: W Y
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: L Y
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Chong
authors.forename: C Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: T W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Wong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005533:Foot Dermatoses / Q000188:drug therapy; D006229:Hand Dermatoses / Q000188:drug therapy; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D017964:Itraconazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014009:Onychomycosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D017964:Itraconazole