title: Efficacy of nitric oxide-liberating cream on pityriasis versicolor.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tinea versicolor is a superficial fungal infection of the skin caused by Malassezia yeasts. Tinea versicolor is a common disease and has a high rate of recurrence.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a prospective, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial in Faghihi Hospital Dermatology Department. Participants were older than 10 years with a clinical diagnosis of tinea versicolor and positive KOH preparation, and were divided in two groups: active and control (32 individuals in each). They were randomized to receive either nitric oxide (NO)-liberating cream as the active group and placebo as a control. Creams were applied twice daily on the affected sites for 10 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-four patients were entered into the study (31 male and 33 female). No significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of severity, age and sex distribution. There was significant improvement with acidified nitrite cream in the active group after 10 days (p = 0.000).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NO is an important cytotoxic effector in immune defense against fungi that are too large to phagocyte. This study shows the efficacy of an exogenous NO-releasing cream in treating tinea versicolor.
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Department and Shiraz University of Medical Science, Shiraz, Iran. jowkarf@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Farideh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jowkar
authors.forename: Akram
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jamshidzadeh
authors.forename: Soroush
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pakniyat
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Namazi
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009824:Ointments; D010919:Placebos; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014010:Tinea Versicolor / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D009824:Ointments; D010919:Placebos; D009569:Nitric Oxide