Intermittent pulse therapy with itraconazole for onychomycosis. Experiencein Hong Kong Chinese

Forty-four Hong Kong Chinese adults comprising 10 cases of fingernail and 4 2 cases of toenail onychomycosis were recruited for a 5-weekly itraconazole pulse therapy. Each pulse consisted of seven consecutive daily 400 mg dose s with a 3-week interval between treatments. All patients in the fingernail group and 37 in the toenail group completed the study. The clinical cure, clinical response and mycological cure rates at week 36 were 70, 90 and 90% for fingernail and 35, 81 and 68% for toenail groups, respectively. Side-e ffects including biochemical abnormalities were minimal, and returned to no rmal upon cessation of treatment. We conclude that itraconazole pulse thera py is very effective, safe and well-tolerated for fingernail and toenail on ychomycosis.