Comparison between fluconazole and ketoconazole effectivity in the treatment of pityriasis versicolor.
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.
Yazdanpanah
Mohammad Javad
MJ
Department of Dermatology, Ghaem Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. m-yazdanpanah@mums.ac.ir
Azizi
Hoda
H
Suizi
Behnaz
B
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*
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D015725:Fluconazole; D007654:Ketoconazole