title: Comparison of clinical efficacy of topical pimecrolimus with betamethasone in chronic skin lesions due to sulfur mustard exposure: a randomized, investigator-blind study.
abstract: This study compared topical pimecrolimus with betamethasone in the treatment of pruritus and chronic skin lesions due to sulfur mustard exposure. Seventy male chemical-injured war veterans participated in this investigator-blinded clinical trial. They were randomized to receive pimecrolimus cream 1% (n = 35) or betamethasone cream 0.1% (n = 35) two times a day for 6 weeks. Dermatological examination and assessment of pruritus severity by a pruritic score questionnaire and visual analogue scale were done before and after the treatment course. A significant decrease (P < 0.05) in pruritus, burning sensation, and skin dryness was shown in both groups after the treatment. However, the severity of hyper- and hypopigmentation, vesicle, erythema, fissure, lichenification and excoriation did not decrease significantly in either group (P > 0.05). Mean (+/- standard deviation) pruritic scores at baseline for the pimecrolimus and betamethasone groups were 30.4 (+/- 8.0) and 33.6 (+/- 7.2), respectively (P = 0.103). These scores decreased to 18.8 (+/- 4.8) in the pimecrolimus and 20.8 (+/- 4.0) in the betamethasone groups after treatment; both showed a statistically significant decrease (P < 0.001). Change of pruritus score from baseline to after the treatment course was not statistically different between the two groups (P = 0.502). No serious side-effects were reported during the course of the treatment. Topical pimecrolimus 1% was as effective as betamethasone cream 0.1% in controlling pruritus, burning sensation and skin dryness of sulfur mustard-exposed patients.
authors.affiliation: Research Center of Chemical Injuries, Baqiyatallah Medical Sciences University, Tehran, Iran. yunespanahi@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Yunes
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Panahi
authors.forename: Yashar
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Moharamzad
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Beiraghdar
authors.forename: Mohammad Mehdi
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Naghizadeh
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001623:Betamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009151:Mustard Gas / Q000633:toxicity*; D009824:Ointments; D011537:Pruritus / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents; D009824:Ointments; C117268:pimecrolimus; D001623:Betamethasone; D009151:Mustard Gas; D016559:Tacrolimus