Efficacy of a detergent combined with a moisturizer for the treatment of pruritus associated with xerosis in an elderly population affected by Kaposi's sarcoma.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Xerosis is common among patients with Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy of a detergent containing dihydroavenanthramide D 5% combined with a moisturizer containing 1% of menthol for the treatment of chronic pruritus associated with xerosis in elderly KS patients.

METHODS:

We conducted a prospective, open-label, intra-individual, right/left comparative study. During the 4-week treatment study, patients used the test products on the right lower limb, and a basic skin cleanser plus basic cream on their left lower limb, in a predefined protocol. A 10 cm visual analogue scale (VAS), the hydration index (HI) of the stratum corneum and the overall dry skin score (ODSS) were used to assess pruritus and xerosis severity on admission, at 2 and 4 weeks.

RESULTS:

Thirty patients (24 males, 6 females, mean age: 76.6±6.8 years) were enrolled. At the end of 4 weeks, the mean pruritus VAS score declined from 4.2±2.2 to 1.7±1.4 on the right side, and from 4.2±2.2 to 2.3±1.5 on the left side. The HI score increased from 25.6±15.0 to 46.1±12.3 on the right side, and from 26.0±15.2 to 35.4±12.6 on the left side. Differences between the right and left limbs were significant for VAS score (P=0.0064), HI (P<0.0001) and ODSS values (P=0.0049). There was no adverse reaction to the test products.

CONCLUSIONS:

Daily use of a detergent containing dihydroavenanthramide D 5% combined with a moisturizer containing 1% of menthol improves chronic pruritus associated with xerosis in elderly adults with KS.

• Authors: Athanasia Tourlaki, Giovanni Genovese, Dario Consonni, Lucia Brambilla
• Journal: Giornale italiano di dermatologia e venereologia : organo ufficiale, Societa italiana di dermatologia e sifilografia (G Ital Dermatol Venereol) Vol. 155 Issue 4 Pg. 487-491 (Aug 2020) ISSN: 1827-1820 [Electronic] Italy
• PMID: 29417794 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Detergents
• Emollients
• ortho-Aminobenzoates
• Menthol
• dihydroavenanthramide D

Topics

• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Detergents (administration & dosage)
• Emollients (administration & dosage)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Menthol (administration & dosage)
• Prospective Studies
• Pruritus (drug therapy, etiology)
• Sarcoma, Kaposi (complications, drug therapy)
• Skin Diseases (drug therapy, etiology)
• Treatment Outcome
• ortho-Aminobenzoates (administration & dosage)