       Document 0277
 DOCN  M94A0277
 TI    Current therapy of dermatophytosis.
 DT    9412
 AU    Degreef HJ; DeDoncker PR; Department of Dermatology, UZ Saint-Rafael
       Catholic University; Leuven, Belgium.
 SO    J Am Acad Dermatol. 1994 Sep;31(3 Pt 2):S25-30. Unique Identifier :
       AIDSLINE MED/94358244
 AB    In the past dermatophytes were treated with topical agents or, in the
       case of more recalcitrant or extensive disease, with oral antifungals
       (griseofulvin or ketoconazole). Topical therapies may be effective in
       many cases, but they have limitations. They may be viewed as
       inconvenient by the patient, thereby affecting compliance. Therapy with
       early oral antifungals entails long treatment periods until complete
       cure is obtained. For ketoconazole rare but serious side effects can
       occur, particularly with prolonged use. Griseofulvin is still the drug
       of choice for the treatment of tinea capitis of the Microsporum type. In
       recent years a few new antimycotic agents have been developed for
       systemic therapy of superficial fungal infections. Itraconazole is a
       broad-spectrum triazole. Fluconazole belongs to the same chemical class
       and was used mainly in systemic yeast infections and mucosal candidosis.
       Terbinafine is an allylamine and has been found to be effective and safe
       in brief therapy of dermatophyte infections. Short-duration therapy of
       most dermatophyte infections is also possible with itraconazole. The
       high and specific activity against the causative agents, together with
       their pharmacokinetic properties, explains the good results obtained
       with these new drugs and their improved safety profile. Their mode of
       action, pharmacokinetics, and treatment schedules will be discussed.
 DE    Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/COMPLICATIONS  Administration, Oral
       Administration, Topical  Allylamine/PHARMACOLOGY/THERAPEUTIC USE
       Antifungal Agents/PHARMACOLOGY/*THERAPEUTIC USE
       Dermatomycoses/COMPLICATIONS/*DRUG THERAPY  Drug Administration Schedule
       Fluconazole/PHARMACOLOGY/THERAPEUTIC USE
       Griseofulvin/PHARMACOLOGY/THERAPEUTIC USE  Human
       Itraconazole/PHARMACOLOGY/THERAPEUTIC USE
       Ketoconazole/PHARMACOLOGY/THERAPEUTIC USE
       Morpholines/PHARMACOLOGY/THERAPEUTIC USE  Time Factors
       Tolnaftate/PHARMACOLOGY/THERAPEUTIC USE  JOURNAL ARTICLE  REVIEW
       REVIEW, TUTORIAL

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).

