Efficacy of itraconazole pulse therapy in treatment of onychomycosis:a multicentre open study / 第二军医大学学报

ABSTRACT

Objective:To observe the efficacy and safety of itraconazole in treatment of onychomycosis and its influence on nail growth speed. Methods: In a multicentre open study involving 15 medical units nationwide, patients with onychomycosis were treated with orally itraconazole pulse therapy. At each stage after treatment, the clinical efficacy,mycological efficacy, and side-effects of the therapy and the net growth length of normal nail deck were observed.Results: The therapy had a satisfactory efficacy and prolonged effect in treating onychomycosis for both affected fingers and toe nails. The therapy was effective for onychomycosis infected with dermatophyton, yeast or non-dermatophyton fungus and had a fungus-eliminating-rate of 97.86%. The average net growth length of normal nail deck in affected toe nails was slightly longer than that in finger nails on 6 months and 9 months after treatment.No severe side effects were found. Conclusion: Itraconazole pulse therapy is effective and safe for onychomychosis and can increase nail growth length,especially for toe nails.