Comparative study between terbinafine 1% emulsion-gel versus ketoconazole 2% cream in tinea cruris and tinea corporis

An open, prospective, comparative, randomised and parallel-group study of 6 5 patients was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of topical 1% emulsion-gel of terbinafine versus 2% ketoconazole cream in the treatment o f tinea corporis and tinea cruris. Treatment for terbinafine emulsion-gel w as applied once daily for 1 week, whereas ketoconazole cream was applied on ce daily for 2 weeks; patients were followed for 2 weeks. Thirty-three pati ents in the terbinafine group and 32 in the ketoconazole group were evaluat ed for efficacy and safety. At the end of the study, rates of mycological c ure were 94% for terbinafine emulsion-gel and 69% for ketoconazole cream (p = 0.027), A clinical and mycological overall evaluation was obtained for 7 2% of patients receiving terbinafine emulsion gel and 31% of patients recei ving ketoconazole cream (p = 0.002), A total of four patients (1 in the ter binafine group and 3 in the ketoconazole group) had contact dermatitis-like side effects. We conclude that a 1-week course of terbinafine 1% emulsion- gel is significantly more effective than ketoconazole 2% cream in the treat ment of tinea corporis and tinea cruris as regards clinical and mycological cure and treatment safety.