Retrospective Study of Oral Antifungal Agents in the Treatment of Toenail Onychomycosis

Lee, Yang Won; Jeong, Seong Tae; Ahn, Kyu Joong

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Clinical success rate is determined by patients compliance which depends on treatment method and period. Retrospective study to clinical success rate may give the information to promote compliance with oral medications for onychomycosis.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate clinical success rate in the different treatment group. METHOD: For the retrospective study, 618 patients diagnosed clinically and mycologically as having onychomycosis were evaluated for the cure rate and drop-out rate.
RESULTS
The drop-out rate was 31.5% in itraconazole monthly pulse group, 74.3% in itraconazole daily continuous group, 77.5% in terbinafine daily continuous group and 97.8% in fluconazole weekly pulse group. Therefore the success rate was 68.5% in itraconazole monthly pulse group, 25.7% in itraconazole daily continuous group, 22.5% in terbinafine daily continuous group and 2.2% in fluconazole weekly pulse group. The drop-out rate was high in the first period of treatment schedule in most of treatment groups except itraconazole monthly pulse and daily continuous groups.
CONCLUSION
We concluded that the treatment duration and method are the critical factor to treat tonail onychomycosis relating in determining patients' preference for treatment schedules.