title: Clinical experience of imiquimod 3.75% for actinic keratosis: results from a case series.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In clinical studies, imiquimod 3.75% was shown to detect and treat actinic keratosis (AK) lesions across an entire sun-exposed field such as the full face or balding scalp. The aim of this study was to evaluate imiquimod 3.75% in a real-life clinical setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten AK patients applied imiquimod 3.75% to the full face or scalp once-daily in two 2-week treatment cycles separated by a two-week treatment-free interval and were followed-up eight weeks later. Seven patients rated imiquimod 3.75% versus prior treatments (cryotherapy, photodynamic therapy, diclofenac sodium 3%, imiquimod 5%, ingenol mebutate).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median clinical lesion count at baseline was 12.5. This increased to a median Lmax (maximum lesion count during treatment) of 22.5 as imiquimod 3.75% unmasked previously invisible subclinical lesions. At final follow-up, the median lesion count was 0. Local skin reactions such as erythema, scabbing and erosion occurred during each treatment cycle and were easy to manage. All patients considered imiquimod 3.75% easier to apply than prior treatments and 5 reported fewer or similar side effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this cohort, imiquimod 3.75% effectively cleared clinical and subclinical lesions across the entire affected field and was well tolerated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tambone
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Fargnoli
authors.affiliation: Institute of Dermatology, Catholic University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Rodolfo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Capizzi
authors.affiliation: Institute of Dermatology, Catholic University of Rome, Rome, Italy - ketty.peris@rm.unicatt.it.
authors.forename: Ketty
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Peris
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000634:Aminoquinolines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005145:Face / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D000077271:Imiquimod; D055623:Keratosis, Actinic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012535:Scalp / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000634:Aminoquinolines; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D000077271:Imiquimod