SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT OF GRANULOMA-ANNULARE WITH A TOPICALLY APPLIED VITAMIN-E EMULSION - A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY

Granuloma annulare is a benign and usually self-limited inflammatory d ermatosis of unknown cause. However, the cosmetic disfigurement can he severe, Thus far, no specific effective treatments have been document ed and, consequently, the treatment of this dermatosis is still unsati sfactory. The possible benefit of topically applied vitamin E has prev iously been reported, but has not yet been evaluated clinically on a l arge scale. We report here a retrospective study of 30 patients (21 fe male, 9 male) with localized granuloma annulare treated topically with vitamin E two or three times daily for up to 3 months, In 17 patients (57%), we observed a complete resolution of lesions, in 5 patients (1 7%) a partial resolution, and in 8 patients (27%) no response to treat ment. In our opinion, topically applied vitamin E for granuloma annula re allows fast and uncomplicated administration of drug to the lesion, it has a good therapeutic ratio without any adverse effects and can b e used in children without precautions and thus, lastly, is cost-effic ient.