Long-term results in patients with onychomycosis treated with terbinafine or itraconazole.
BACKGROUND
Previously, a double-blind, randomized, multicentre study (LION study) compared the efficacy of continuous terbinafine 250 mg daily for 3 or 4 months with itraconazole pulse therapy 400 mg daily for 3 or 4 months. At the end of the study at week 72 terbinafine proved to be more effective.


OBJECTIVE
To perform a 4-year follow-up of the Finnish participants in this study.


METHODS
Patients were re-examined clinically and mycologically.


RESULTS
Complete clinical and mycological cure with terbinafine for 4 months was 78% compared with 35% with terbinafine for 3 months, 24% with itraconazole for 4 months and 28% with itraconazole for 3 months.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that the initial treatment for onychomycosis should be a 4-month continuous course of terbinafine.
Heikkilä
H
H
Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Meilahdentie 2, 00250 Helsinki 25, Finland. hannele.heikkilä@hus.fi
Stubb
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005533:Foot Dermatoses / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D017964:Itraconazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014009:Onychomycosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D000077291:Terbinafine; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D009281:Naphthalenes; D017964:Itraconazole; D000077291:Terbinafine