New posology of potassium iodide for the treatment of cutaneous sporotrichosis: study of efficacy and safety in 102 patients.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The first therapeutic choice for the treatment of cutaneous sporotrichosis is oral itraconazole; however, the increase in cases of zoonotic transmission outbreak necessitates a search for effective and safe treatment alternatives.

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate a new potassium iodide (KI) posology as an alternative for the treatment of limited cutaneous forms of sporotrichosis.

METHODS:

One hundred and two patients with sporotrichosis diagnosed by isolation of Sporothrix sp. were included and were divided into 2 groups that received different doses of KI: group A received the conventional dose, and group B received the reduced dose. The cure criteria were based on clinical and serological data.

RESULTS:

Seventy-nine patients (77.4%) reached clinical cure: 70.6% and 84.3% of groups A and B respectively. Sixteen patients (15.6%) were lost during follow-up, and seven changed drug therapy: five in group A and two in group B. The incidence of adverse events was similar for both groups (64.7%): predominantly metallic taste (44%), followed by mild gastrointestinal intolerance and acneiform eruption (10.7% each). No serious adverse events occurred, and there were no recurrences. Analysis of the results showed no statistically significant difference between groups (P = 0.9255). The improvement in serologic titres was significant in both treatment groups.

CONCLUSION:

Through statistical analysis, the usual posology was not shown to be superior to the one proposed in this study. Serology for sporotrichosis may be used as a valuable tool in the clinical monitoring of these patients.

• Authors: P M Macedo, L M Lopes-Bezerra, A R Bernardes-Engemann, R Orofino-Costa
• Journal: Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology : JEADV (J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol) Vol. 29 Issue 4 Pg. 719-24 (Apr 2015) ISSN: 1468-3083 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 25229626 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © 2014 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.

Chemical References

• Antifungal Agents
• Potassium Iodide

Topics

• Acneiform Eruptions (chemically induced)
• Adolescent
• Adult
• Antifungal Agents (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Drug Eruptions (etiology)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Nausea (chemically induced)
• Potassium Iodide (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Serologic Tests
• Sporothrix (immunology)
• Sporotrichosis (drug therapy)
• Taste Disorders (chemically induced)
• Treatment Outcome