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).