Abstract | BACKGROUND:
Imiquimod 5% cream applied twice weekly for 16 weeks is effective for treating actinic keratoses but may be limited by local side effects. OBJECTIVE: We sought to explore the efficacy and safety of a once weekly for 24 weeks dosing regimen using a left versus right side of head design. RESULTS: Twenty patients were enrolled; 15 completed and 5 discontinued for reasons unrelated to adverse events. At the posttreatment visit (week 28), 7 (46.7%) of 15 patients had marked improvement or better on the imiquimod side versus one (6.7%) of 15 on the placebo side. The average investigator assessment scale score change was +2.20 for imiquimod compared with -0.27 for placebo (P = .0002, Wilcoxon signed rank test). Skin reactions were minimal or nonexistent in most patients. LIMITATIONS: Limitations of the study include a small sample size and a lack of objective measure of local side effects. CONCLUSION:
Imiquimod 5% cream applied once weekly for 24 weeks was convenient for patients and resulted in improvement of actinic keratoses with minimal side effects.
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Authors | Joshua A Zeichner, Dana W K Stern, Annemarie Uliasz, Sarit Itenberg, Mark Lebwohl |
Journal | Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
(J Am Acad Dermatol)
Vol. 60
Issue 1
Pg. 59-62
(Jan 2009)
ISSN: 1097-6787 [Electronic] United States |
PMID | 18937999
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
- Adjuvants, Immunologic
- Aminoquinolines
- Pharmaceutical Preparations
- Imiquimod
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Topics |
- Adjuvants, Immunologic
(administration & dosage)
- Aged
- Aminoquinolines
(administration & dosage)
- Double-Blind Method
- Drug Administration Schedule
- Female
- Humans
- Imiquimod
- Keratosis, Actinic
(drug therapy)
- Male
- Pharmaceutical Preparations
- Pilot Projects
- Time Factors
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