Intermittent topical 5-fluorouracil is effective without significant irritation in the treatment of actinic keratoses but prolongs treatment duration.
BACKGROUND
Controversy exists as to whether treatment of actinic keratoses with intermittent doses of topical 5-fluorouracil is effective in the absence of significant irritation.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy and degree of irritation of 5-fluorouracil as a function of its application frequency.


METHODS
A total of 85 actinic keratoses in 53 patients were treated, initially with four applications per week for the first week. After this first week, if intolerable irritation arose, patients were instructed to reduce application frequency to two times per week for the rest of the treatment period.


RESULTS
Treatment was completed for 95.4% of the lesions included, with healing of 88.6% of them. The mean time to healing was 7.4 weeks (with four applications weekly) and 10.2 weeks (with two applications). The healing rate was similar in the two groups. Significant correlations (p<0.001) were observed between application frequency and time to healing.


CONCLUSIONS
Intermittent 5-fluorouracil treatment is effective without causing significant irritation, but time to healing increases with declining application frequency.
Labandeira
Javier
J
Department of Dermatology, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario, Faculty of Medicine, C/. San Francisco s/n, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain. jlabandeira@meditex.es
Pereiro
Manuel
M
Valdés
Fernando
F
Toribio
Jaime
J
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D003875:Drug Eruptions / Q000209:etiology; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D007642:Keratosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D005472:Fluorouracil