Retrospective Follow-up of the Longstanding Effect of the Systemic Antimycotic Foot Onychomycosis Treatment

Overview

Records of 183 patients treated for foot onychomycosis in the years 2000–2003 were analyzed. The number of relapses by the end of the year 2005 was evaluated. Itraconazole was used in 132 patients (3 or 4 week pulses of 400 mg a day followed by 6 months application of ciclopirox solution) and 51 patients were treated by terbinafine (3 or 4 month continuous therapy of 250 mg a day followed by 6 months application of ciclopirox solution). Relaps was noted in 31.1% of patients treated with itraconazole in a mean time of 12.1 months and in 13.7% of patients treated with terbinafine in a mean time of 23.4 months. These differences are statistically significant on 1% level. Prophylactic measures (shoe disinfection, antimycotic powder) have not influenced the recurrence rate.

Key words:
onychomycosis – therapy – recurrence