Efficacy of 3% diclofenac gel for the treatment of actinic keratoses: a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study.
BACKGROUND
Actinic keratoses (AKs) are premalignant skin lesions caused by excessive sun exposure.


OBJECTIVE
To explore the therapeutic efficacy of 3% diclofenac in 2.5% hyaluronan gel in the topical treatment of AK.


METHODS
Sixty-four lesions in 20 patients were evaluated. They were randomized to receive either the active treatment, 3% diclofenac in 2.5% hyaluronan gel or placebo, which consisted of the inactive gel vehicle, hyaluronan for a period of three months. The collected data were analyzed by using Student t- tests.


RESULTS
There was a reduction in the lesion size in 64.7% of diclofenac-treated lesions and 34.3% of control lesions during the three-month course of treatment. Only 9.3% of the lesions in the diclofenac group were completely cleared during three months of treatment. During the treatment, no significant side-effect was observed in both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Considering the malignant potential of actinic keratoses and the importance of clearing them to prevent their transformation to squamous cell carcinoma, the efficacy of diclofenac gel seen in our study seems to be low. This treatment may be useful for patients who do not tolerate other, more effective kinds of treatment for actinic keratoses.
Fariba
Iraji
I
Department of Dermatology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. iraji@med.mui.ac.ir
Ali
Asilian
A
Hossein
Siadat Amir
SA
Atefeh
Safavai
S
Atarzadeh Behbahan
Seyed Afshin
SA
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004008:Diclofenac / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005782:Gels; D006801:Humans; D007642:Keratosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
D005782:Gels; D004008:Diclofenac