title: Efficacy of Aloe vera/olive oil cream versus betamethasone cream for chronic skin lesions following sulfur mustard exposure: a randomized double-blind clinical trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic pruritic skin lesions are among the common late complications of sulfur mustard intoxication. In the present randomized double-blind clinical trial, therapeutic efficacy of Aloe vera/olive oil combination cream in the alleviation of these lesions was evaluated and compared to that of betamethasone 0.1% cream.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-seven Iranian chemical warfare-injured veterans were randomized to apply A. vera/olive oil (n=34, completers=31) or betamethasone 0.1% (n=33, completers=32) cream twice daily for 6 weeks. Evaluation of pruritus severity was performed using a pruritic score questionnaire and visual analogue scale (VAS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both treatments were associated with significant reductions in the frequency of pruritus (p<0.05), burning sensation (p<0.01 and p<0.001 in A. vera/olive oil and betamethasone group, respectively), scaling (p<0.01 and p<0.05) and dry skin (p<0.001) at the end of trial. Fissure and excoriation were only reduced in the A. vera group (p<0.05). The change in the frequency of hyper- and hypopigmentation lesions, blisters, erythema and lichenification did not reach statistical significance in any of the groups (p>0.05). Mean pruritus (p<0.05) and VAS scores (p<0.01 and p<0.05) were significantly decreased by the end of trial in both groups. The rate of improvement in the pruritus severity [defined as being classified in a less severe category (mild, moderate and severe)] was found to be comparable between the groups (p>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A. vera/olive oil cream was at least as effective as betamethasone 0.1% in the treatment of sulfur mustard-induced chronic skin complications and might serve as a promising therapeutic option for the alleviation of symptoms in mustard gas-exposed patients.
authors: Research Center of Chemical Injuries, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Molla-Sadra Street, Tehran, P.O. Box: 19945-581, Iran. yunespanahi@yahoo.com
authors: Yunes
authors: Y
authors: Panahi
authors: Seyyed Masoud
authors: SM
authors: Davoudi
authors: Amirhossein
authors: A
authors: Sahebkar
authors: Fatemeh
authors: F
authors: Beiraghdar
authors: Yahya
authors: Y
authors: Dadjo
authors: Iraj
authors: I
authors: Feizi
authors: Golnoush
authors: G
authors: Amirchoopani
authors: Ali
authors: A
authors: Zamani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000504:Aloe; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001623:Betamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents / Q000633:toxicity; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004643:Emollients / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009151:Mustard Gas / Q000633:toxicity*; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011537:Pruritus / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014728:Veterans
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents; D004643:Emollients; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010938:Plant Oils; D001623:Betamethasone; D009151:Mustard Gas