title: Long-term results in patients with onychomycosis treated with terbinafine or itraconazole.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Meilahdentie 2, 00250 Helsinki 25, Finland. hannele.heikkilä@hus.fi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Heikkilä
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stubb
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D009281:Naphthalenes; D017964:Itraconazole; D000077291:Terbinafine