Short- and medium-term efficacy of specific hydrotherapy in inherited ichthyosis.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Management of inherited ichthyoses is symptomatic. Despite treatment, skin symptoms have a major impact on patients' quality of life (QoL).

OBJECTIVES:

To assess the short- and medium-term efficacy of hydrotherapy on QoL and clinical symptoms of patients with inherited ichthyosis.

METHODS:

In this 9-month prospective, open-label, multicentre study, 20 children and 24 adults with ichthyosis were enrolled in several French reference and competence centres, 2 months before undergoing a 3-week treatment with specific hydrotherapeutic management at Avène Hydrotherapy Centre. At baseline (2 months before hydrotherapy), beginning (D0) and end of hydrotherapy (D18), and 3 and 6 months later at the reference and competence centres, patients self-assessed QoL using the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) or its paediatric version (Children's DLQI), and investigators evaluated ichthyosis severity using a specific clinical ichthyosis score.

RESULTS:

The DLQI scores were significantly improved not only at the end of the hydrotherapy treatment (-56% vs. baseline; mean ± SD 3·59 ± 4·30 at D18 vs. 8·35 ± 5·71 at D0; P < 0·0001), but also at 3 months (-28% vs. baseline; P = 0·01) and 6 months after hydrotherapy (-26% vs. baseline; mean ± SD 5·21 ± 5·11 vs. 6·89 ± 5·38; P = 0·03) (primary criterion). Clinical symptoms were also significantly improved at all post-treatment visits, with a decrease of the mean clinical ichthyosis score by -38% between D0 and D18, by -30% at 3 months and by -31% at 6 months vs. baseline.

CONCLUSIONS:

A 3-week treatment at Avène Hydrotherapy Centre provided significant and persisting improvement of QoL and clinical symptoms in patients with inherited ichthyoses.

• Authors: C Bodemer, E Bourrat, J Mazereeuw-Hautier, F Boralevi, S Barbarot, D Bessis, C Blanchet-Bardon, E Bourdon-Lanoy, J-F Stalder, V Ribet, D Guerrero, V Sibaud
• Journal: The British journal of dermatology (Br J Dermatol) Vol. 165 Issue 5 Pg. 1087-94 (Nov 2011) ISSN: 1365-2133 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 21729027 (Publication Type: Evaluation Study, Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © 2011 The Authors. BJD © 2011 British Association of Dermatologists.

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Female
• Humans
• Hydrotherapy (methods)
• Ichthyosis (genetics, therapy)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Prospective Studies
• Quality of Life
• Treatment Outcome
• Young Adult