Therapeutic Efficacy of Ciclopirox Nail Lacquer in the Treatment of Onychomycoses

Won, Young Ho; Lee, Jee Bum; Lee, Seung Chul; Chun, Inn Ki

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Ciclopirox 8% nail lacquer is a new topical antifungal agent which is character ized by excellent penetration into the nail plate to the infected koratin and remains there for a prolonged period. We per formed a st,udy to assess the therapeutic efficacy and safety of ciclopirox 8% nail lacquer in the treatment of onychomycoses.
METHODS
We used 20 satients with onychomycoses, which was confirmed by KOH ancl fungus culture. The ciclopirox nail lacquer was applied once daily for 1 month, and followed by two times weekly for the next 5 months. The clinical observat.ion was perforrned every month for any clinical improvement and side-dffects. The involved percent of a target nail was measured by using a adhesive tape at.ached to the selected nail plate. All involved nails(n=68) were also evaluated by a severity score(sever>50%. moderate 25-50%, mild<25%).
RESULTS
Seventeen patients were finally assessed because of the deletion of 3 patients througl loss of contact. The involved percent of target nail was significantly decreased from 57.4% at baseline to 27.9% througli the 6 month-treatment(p<0.01, ANOVA). The total reduced precent of target nail involvement at the end of the treatment was 52+22% on average. The precent of severly involved nail(>50%) in all 68 involved nails was also decreased from 56% at baseline to 7% by the end of the treatment The mycologieal cure rate was 82.4% by the end of the treatment. The overall efficaor assessed by the physician and patients was improvement by 82.4% Tolerability was excellent or good in all patients, but cosmetic acceptance was good or excellen by 53%. Only one patient complained of a prickling sensation, but no systemic adverse effect were found.
CONCLUSION
These data suggest that ciclopirox 8% nail lacquer may be safe and effective ir the treatment of onychomvcoses.