HYPERKERATOTIC CHRONIC TINEA-PEDIS TREATED WITH NETICONAZOLE CREAM

A total of 126 patients with tinea pedis were entered into this 4-week study of neticonazole (SS Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Tokyo), a new imid azole derivative recently developed and launched in Japan as a topical antifungal agent applied either with or without occlusive dressing. D iagnosis of the hyperkeratotic form of tinea pedis was established by a positive KOH wet mount and by clinical signs. Dermatophyte culture w as performed from a designated target lesion before initiation of trea tment. The patients, randomly assigned through a telephone service, we re treated by neticonazole 1% cream once daily with either simple appl ication (sa) or overnight occlusive dressing (ODT). Clinical improveme nts in the five clinical signs: pruritus, erythema, hyperkeratosis, fi ssure, and scale were assessed by the following criteria: marked impro vement, moderate improvement, slight improvement, no change, and worse ning. The mycologic response (KOH) and improvement of clinical signs o f the two groups were evaluated 2 and 4 weeks after commencing treatme nt.