19633
document
Pimecrolimus cream 1 % vs. betamethasone 17-valerate 0.1 % cream in the treatment of seborrhoeic dermatitis . A randomized open-label clinical trial . BACKGROUND Seborrhoeic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory disease with remissions and exacerbations , characterized by erythema , scaling and pruritus primarily on the face , scalp and chest . Corticosteroids and antifungals are the mainstay of therapy . However , chronic use of corticosteroids is associated with side-effects such as skin atrophy and telangiectasia . Pimecrolimus , an inhibitor of calcineurin , has been used successfully in one patient with seborrhoeic dermatitis . OBJECTIVES The objective of this randomized open-label clinical trial was to compare the efficacy and tolerability of pimecrolimus in comparison with a potent corticosteroid ( betamethasone 17-valerate ) in the treatment of seborrhoeic dermatitis . METHODS Twenty patients with seborrhoeic dermatitis were included in this study , 11 patients in the pimecrolimus 1 % cream group and nine patients in the betamethasone 17-valerate 0.1 % cream group . Patients were instructed to use a thin layer of the study products twice daily at the lesional area and to discontinue treatment as soon as symptoms were absent . Clinical measures assessed were erythema , scaling and pruritus which were evaluated using a four-point scale ( 0-3 ) . RESULTS Both pimecrolimus and betamethasone were highly effective in the treatment of seborrhoeic dermatitis . Betamethasone reduced all three parameters , erythema , scaling and pruritus , faster than pimecrolimus , but the differences in reduction were not statistically significant . Relapses were observed more frequently and were more severe with betamethasone than with pimecrolimus . Moreover , pruritus was not observed after discontinuation of treatment from day 15 and beyond in the pimecrolimus group , whereas it was reported in most patients of the betamethasone group . This difference was statistically significant . CONCLUSIONS It appears that pimecrolimus , a nonsteroidal topical treatment , may be an excellent alternative therapeutic modality for treating seborrhoeic dermatitis .
19634
Intervention_Pharmacological
Pimecrolimus cream
19635
Intervention_Pharmacological
betamethasone 17-valerate
19636
Intervention_Pharmacological
Pimecrolimus
19637
Intervention_Pharmacological
pimecrolimus
19638
Intervention_Pharmacological
corticosteroid ( betamethasone 17-valerate )
19639
Intervention_Pharmacological
pimecrolimus 1 % cream group
19640
Intervention_Pharmacological
betamethasone 17-valerate 0.1 % cream group
19641
Intervention_Pharmacological
pimecrolimus
19642
Intervention_Pharmacological
betamethasone
19643
Intervention_Pharmacological
Betamethasone
19644
Intervention_Pharmacological
pimecrolimus
19645
Intervention_Pharmacological
betamethasone
19646
Intervention_Pharmacological
pimecrolimus
19647
Intervention_Pharmacological
pimecrolimus
19648
Intervention_Pharmacological
betamethasone
19649
Intervention_Pharmacological
pimecrolimus
19650
Outcome_Other
efficacy and tolerability
19651
Outcome_Physical
erythema , scaling and pruritus
19652
Outcome_Other
effective
19653
Outcome_Physical
erythema
19654
Outcome_Physical
scaling
19655
Outcome_Physical
pruritus
19656
Outcome_Physical
Relapses
19657
Outcome_Physical
pruritus