Abstract | BACKGROUND: Disseminated granuloma annulare (DGA) is a benign and usually asymptomatic skin disease. However, many patients feel aesthetically disfigured and ask for treatment. Until today, no standard therapy is recommended. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of oral vitamin E treatment compared to the natural course of DGA. METHODS: This single-centre observational cohort study included 38 consecutive patients with histologically confirmed DGA. 21 patients underwent treatment with oral vitamin E, whereas 17 patients preferred a wait-and-see approach. RESULTS: Complete healing (40%) and improvement (30%) were frequently seen under oral vitamin E therapy. However, DGA also spontaneously disappeared in 31% and improved in 25% of untreated control patients. Vitamin E therapy was very well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: Oral vitamin E treatment is a safe and probably effective therapy for DGA. As the natural course of DGA leads to complete healing or significant improvement in many cases, 'primum nil nocere' should be the maxim.
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Authors | Heiko Poppe, Lidia M Poppe, Matthias Goebeler, Axel Trautmann |
Journal | Dermatology (Basel, Switzerland)
(Dermatology)
Vol. 227
Issue 1
Pg. 83-8
( 2013)
ISSN: 1421-9832 [Electronic] Switzerland |
PMID | 23988344
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Observational Study)
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Chemical References |
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Topics |
- Administration, Oral
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Aged
- Aged, 80 and over
- Child
- Female
- Granuloma Annulare
(drug therapy)
- Humans
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Remission, Spontaneous
- Retrospective Studies
- Vitamin E
(therapeutic use)
- Vitamins
(therapeutic use)
- Watchful Waiting
- Young Adult
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