title: Comparison between fluconazole and ketoconazole effectivity in the treatment of pityriasis versicolor.
abstract: Topical drugs are often effective in limited lesions of pityriasis versicolor; but in extensive cases, systemic drugs are more suitable. Previous studies have shown that ketoconazole and fluconazole are effective in 42-97% and 74-100% of lesions respectively. Our purpose was to compare the effectiveness of a single dose of 400 mg ketoconazole with two doses of 300 mg of fluconazole with 2 weeks interval. Ninety patients with extensive pityriasis versicolor (body involved area > or =25%) were randomly assigned to treatment with either a single dose of 400 mg of ketoconazole or with two doses of 300 mg of fluconazole with 2 weeks interval. One month after the treatment, the improvement rate and side effects were evaluated by clinical examination and questionnaire. Sixty cases (66.7%) completed the study. They were 51 males and nine females, with a mean age of 30 years. At the follow-up visit (1 month after the end of treatment), the improvement rate for ketoconazole (87.9%) was not significantly different from fluconazole (81.5%), (Fisher test: P = 0.37). Due to the hepatotoxicity of ketoconazole, fluconazole appears to be more suitable in the treatment of extensive pityriasis versicolor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Ghaem Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. m-yazdanpanah@mums.ac.ir
authors.forename: Mohammad Javad
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Yazdanpanah
authors.forename: Hoda
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Azizi
authors.forename: Behnaz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Suizi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D015725:Fluconazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D007654:Ketoconazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014010:Tinea Versicolor / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D015725:Fluconazole; D007654:Ketoconazole