[ comparative evaluation of terbinafin 1% cream and clotrimazole 1% in the treatment of pityriasis versicolor]

ABSTRACT

Terbinafine, a member of the allylamines group, is a new class of antimycotic agents. The aim of this study was to compare the antifungal efficacy of Terbinafine 1% with that of Clotrimazole 1% in the patients with Pityriasis Versicolor. This controlled-clinical trial study was performed on 53 patients [28 males and 25 females] with a mean age of 25 years old. The patients were divided into two groups. The first group was treated with Terbinafine 1% and the second group with Clotrimazole 1% twice a day. The patients were evaluated both clinically and mycologically at the beginning of the study as well as the end of the second and the fourth weeks. The findings were analyzed using Fisher Exact and Chi Square tests. In the 2[nd] week of the treatment, clinical cure was observed in 44.4% of the patients in the first group [Terbinafine recipients] and in 48% of those in the second group [Clotrimazole recipients] [P=0.90]. At the end of the fourth week, the lesions disappeared in 89% and 81% of the first and second groups, respectively [P=0.467]. Mycological cures were observed in the 2[nd] week in 48% of the first group and 38% of the second group [P=0.477] which respectively increased to 92.5% and 88.5% by the fourth week [P=0.66]. although the fungicidal activity of both drugs were found to be almost similar, Clotrimzole is recommended because it is more available and less expensive