Combining topical tretinoin with mometasone furoate in the treatment of vulvar lichen sclerosus: Results of dermoscopic assessment.

Abstract

The main purpose of the present study was to compare the dermoscopic changes on vulvar lichen sclerosus (VLS) induced by two different 12-week treatment protocols, namely mometasone furoate 0.1% ointment plus tretinoin 0.05% cream in short-contact therapy (group A) versus the same corticosteroid plus emollient (group B). All dermoscopic images captured before and after treatment were assessed. Each dermoscopic variable selected for the study purpose was arbitrarily graded according to a 4-point scale by dermatologists blinded to both the time at which the images were captured and treatment allocation. Seventeen patients in group A and 15 in group B were included. The vessel mean dermoscopic scores increased significantly after treatment, whereas the scores of (a) patchy, structure-less, whitish areas, (b) whitish background, (c) comedo-like openings, and (d) purpuric blotches decreased. At the control visit, the two protocols did not differ significantly for any of the dermoscopic parameters, both in terms of mean score change and in the number of patients showing changes. Although the complementary action of the two molecules may suggest a therapeutic benefit, the association of tretinoin in short contact therapy with a potent corticosteroid did not induce significant changes in the dermoscopic features of VLS compared with the same corticosteroid alone.

• Authors: Monica Corazza, Elisa Maietti, Giulia Toni, Annarosa Virgili, Alessandro Borghi
• Journal: Dermatologic therapy (Dermatol Ther) Vol. 31 Issue 6 Pg. e12735 (11 2018) ISSN: 1529-8019 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 30334327 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Observational Study)
• Copyright: © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Chemical References

• Adrenal Cortex Hormones
• Dermatologic Agents
• Drug Combinations
• Emollients
• Ointments
• Mometasone Furoate
• Tretinoin

Topics

• Administration, Cutaneous
• Adrenal Cortex Hormones (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Aged
• Dermatologic Agents (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Dermoscopy
• Drug Combinations
• Emollients (administration & dosage)
• Female
• Humans
• Middle Aged
• Mometasone Furoate (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Ointments
• Predictive Value of Tests
• Remission Induction
• Treatment Outcome
• Tretinoin (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Vulva (diagnostic imaging, drug effects, pathology)
• Vulvar Lichen Sclerosus (diagnostic imaging, drug therapy, pathology)