title: Ajoene and 5-fluorouracil in the topical treatment of Cladophialophora carrionii chromoblastomycosis in humans: a comparative open study.
abstract: Ajoene and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) are compounds that have shown in-vitro activity against Cladophialophora carrionii, an important etiologic agent of chromoblastomycosis. An open comparative trial was conducted to assess safety and effectiveness of topical ajoene and 5-FU in the treatment of localized chromoblastomycosis. Thirty-seven patients with a clinically and mycologically confirmed diagnosis were randomly distributed into two groups allocated to ajoene (0.5% gel; n = 19) or 5-FU (1% cream; n = 18). Topical treatment was applied to localized lesions (< or = 2.5-cm diameter) once a day, with occlusion, for 12-16 weeks. Complete clinical and mycological remission was achieved in 14/19 patients (74%) treated with ajoene and 14/18 patients (78%) treated with 5-FU. All 5-FU-treated patients developed a post-treatment scar at the site of the lesion, while ajoene-treated patients showed only a slight depigmentation of the skin. The differences observed in cure rate between ajoene and 5-FU are not statistically significant. Follow-up of all patients for 4 years revealed no relapses in the ajoene-treated group, while one patient in the 5-FU-treated group had a relapse 6 months after the end of therapy. This trial represents the first clinical use of ajoene in the control of a deep mycosis.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Experimental Francisco de Miranda Coro, Falcón, Venezuela. maperez@reacciun.ve
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pérez-Blanco
authors.forename: R Hernández
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Valles
authors.forename: G Fernández
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Zeppenfeldt
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Apitz-Castro
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001203:Ascomycota / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002862:Chromoblastomycosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D004220:Disulfides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013454:Sulfoxides
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D004220:Disulfides; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013454:Sulfoxides; C048980:ajoene; D005472:Fluorouracil