The treatment of actinic keratoses with a combination of 5-fluorouracil and imiquimod creams.
BACKGROUND
5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and imiquimod creams are accepted topical therapies for actinic keratosis (AK). Both are associated with a prolonged course of treatment with an inflammatory response that may preclude the treatment process.


OBJECTIVE
To describe the treatment regimen and the extent of side effects in the use of the combined application of 5-FU and imiquimod creams in patients presenting with AKs and to demonstrate the convenience and ease of the methodology of this regimen.


METHODS
The patients applied 5-FU and imiquimod creams to their lesions daily for one week each month over the course of 3 months. The patients were seen after the completion of each one-week course to evaluate their progress and side effects.


RESULTS
There were 64 patients in the study, 48 of whom completed the study and demonstrated a clearing of their AKs by the end of the third course of treatment. All of the patients developed an inflammatory response at the sites of their AKs as well as at subclinical sites with no apparent AKs. Nearly all of these inflammatory reactions were confined to localized sites without involvement of the surrounding skin.


CONCLUSIONS
Therapy with the combined application of 5-FU and imiquimod creams is a relatively rapid and convenient form of therapy as compared to the separate use of each medication.
Price
Norman M
NM
Department of Dermatology at USCF, San Francisco, CA, USA. nmp@pricen.net
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000634:Aminoquinolines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004643:Emollients; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D000077271:Imiquimod; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007642:Keratosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010352:Patient Dropouts / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000634:Aminoquinolines; D004643:Emollients; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D000077271:Imiquimod; D005472:Fluorouracil