title: A randomised comparative study of 1064 nm Neodymium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet (Nd:YAG) laser and topical antifungal treatment of onychomycosis.
abstract: Conventional treatments for onychomycosis include oral and topical antifungal agents. Although Nd:YAG laser has been reported to be effective, controlled studies combined or compared with conventional treatments are needed. To evaluate the efficacy of 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser for onychomycosis and compare outcomes with those of topical antifungal treatment and combination therapy. Patients were randomly divided into three groups: Laser (L); laser with topical antifungal therapy (L + T); and topical antifungal treatment (T). Laser treatment consisted of three or four sessions at 4 week intervals. Outcomes were assessed clinically and mycologically. In 217 nails of 56 patients, 76% in the L group and 71.8% in the L + T group experienced clinical responses, and 15.2% and 22.5%, respectively, were cured at 24 weeks. The clinical and cure rates of both groups were significantly greater than those of the T group. Six patients of the L group developed new infections, as did one patient in the L + T group and two patients in the T group. 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser shows clinically good responses in onychomycosis. Addition of topical antifungal agent did not appear to improve efficacy, but may have protected against new infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Tae In
authors.initials: TI
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Min Kyung
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ki-Heon
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.affiliation: Arumdaun Nara Dermatologic Clinic, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Dong Hye
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Suh
authors.affiliation: Arumdaun Nara Dermatologic Clinic, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Jun
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: In-Hwan
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Mu-Hyoung
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003883:Arthrodermataceae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009354:Neodymium / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014009:Onychomycosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D009354:Neodymium
keywords: Fungus; Nd:YAG; laser; naftifine; onychomycosis