title: A comparative clinical and mycological study of Nd-YAG laser versus topical terbinafine in the treatment of onychomycosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Topical treatment of onychomycoses is time consuming, cost-intensive and subject to relatively high failure rates. Light-based devices may be effective treatment modalities. Aim of this work: To compare the clinical and mycological efficacy of Nd-YAG laser versus topical terbinafine in the treatment of onychomycosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study included 40 patients with onychomycosis randomized to receive four sessions of Nd-YAG laser (group A) or topical terbinafine twice daily for six months (group B). Follow-up was performed monthly. Mycological examination was done at third and sixth months following the start of treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After six months, all patients in group A showed marked improvement, while in group B only 50% of patients showed mild to moderate improvement. In addition, by the end of six months, 80% of the patients in group A showed mycological clearance, while all patients in group B still had positive cultures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Long pulse Nd-YAG laser therapy of onychomycosis is a safe and efficient method for treating onychomycosis. It is especially beneficial in elderly, compromised and hepatopathic patients for whom other alternative treatments could present some risks.
authors: a Dermatology and Venereology Department and.
authors: Rania A
authors: RA
authors: El-Tatawy
authors: a Dermatology and Venereology Department and.
authors: Naeim M
authors: NM
authors: Abd El-Naby
authors: a Dermatology and Venereology Department and.
authors: Esraa E
authors: EE
authors: El-Hawary
authors: b Medical Microbiology and Immunology Department, Faculty of Medicine , Tanta University , Tanta , Egypt.
authors: Raghda A Z
authors: RA
authors: Talaat
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008027:Light; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014009:Onychomycosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D000077291:Terbinafine; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014249:Trichophyton; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D009281:Naphthalenes; D000077291:Terbinafine
keywords: Nd-YAG laser; onychomycosis; topical terbinafine