Chronological evaluation of treatment effect for tinea unguium with efinaconazole: Possibility of an early estimation of treatment effects

The topical antifungal efinaconazole was applied to 27 nails (17 patients), and the treatment effects were monitored over a stipulated period (after 3, 6, and 12 months). Fourteen nails were observed for 18 months. Effects of the treatment were determined on the basis of the improvement rate of the turbidity ratio compared with that before treatment. After 12 months, five nails were cured and marked improvement was noted, whereas moderate and marked improvements were noted in 11 and six nails, respectively. The cured patients exhibited a significantly better improvement rate at 6 months (68.8%) than the other groups. Only 10.6% improvement was observed at the same point in time for the mild improvement group. Thus, in cases where the improvement rate after 6 months of treatment was 10% or less, it was judged that oral treatment should be considered. Furthermore, of the nails monitored for 18 months, those that exhibited further growth in improvement rates at 12 months was 51.6%, suggesting that an improvement rate of 50% at 12 months after starting treatment could be used as an indicator to determine switching to oral treatment.

Race reporting and representation in onychomycosis clinical trials: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Onychomycosis is the most common nail disease seen in clinical practice. Inclusion of diverse groups in onychomycosis clinical trials subjects is necessary to generalise efficacy data.

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to systematically review race and ethnicity reporting and representation, as well as, treatment outcomes in onychomycosis clinical trials.

METHODS

A PubMed search for onychomycosis clinical trials was performed in August 2020. Primary clinical trial data were included and post hoc analyses were excluded. Categorical variables were compared using chi-squared and Fisher's exact tests. Statistical significance was set at p < .05. Photos in articles were categorised by Fitzpatrick skin type.

RESULTS

Only 32/182 (17.5%) trials reported on race and/or ethnicity and only one trial compared treatment efficacy in different subgroups. Darker skin colours were infrequently depicted in articles. Topical treatment, location with ≥1 US-based site, industry funding type and publication date after 2000 were significantly associated with reporting of racial/ethnic data (p < .05 for all comparisons).

LIMITATIONS

Demographics on excluded subjects and methods of recruitment were not available. Assigning Fitzpatrick skin type is inherently subjective.

CONCLUSIONS

This study highlights a need for consistent reporting of races and ethnicities of onychomycosis clinical trial participants with subgroup analyses of treatment efficacies.

Fosravuconazole to treat severe onychomycosis in the elderly

Fosravuconazole is a novel oral antifungal drug developed in Japan and used to treat tinea unguium since 2018. Its excellent oral absorbability and systemic bioavailability has enabled short-duration therapy of 3 months. Furthermore, no concomitant drugs are contraindicated due to the presence of the mild inhibitor of cytochrome P450 enzyme which is responsible for polypharmacy adverse effects. Therefore, it can be safely administrated to elderly patients. Elderly patients (≥65 years old) with severe onychomycosis (≥50% nail involvement) were treated with oral fosravuconazole 100 mg once daily for 12 weeks. The rate of involvement improved from 86.6% to 28.1% (P < 0.01). The efficacy (i.e. percentage of those rated as "improved" and better) and cure rate was 83.8% (31/37) and 29.7% (11/37), respectively. Furthermore, when focusing on the thin nail group (<3 mm), the efficacy and cure rate was 88.2% (15/17) and 58.8% (10/17), respectively. Although the serum γ-glutamyltransferase levels increased in 21.6% (8/37), all patients recovered without any specific treatments.

Topical efinaconazole: A promising therapeutic medication for tinea unguium

We treated tinea unguium (onychomycosis caused by dermatophytes) patients with efinaconazole 10% solution. All patients with tinea unguium who tested positive for fungi in fingernails and toenails, regardless of age or severity, were eligible for the treatment. The number of patients was 106, consisting of 43 men and 63 women with a mean age of 66.7 years. The patients were treated with efinaconazole for a mean treatment duration of 38.1 weeks. Therapeutic efficacy was rated on a 5-point scale as follows: "cured", "markedly improved", "improved", "slightly improved" or "no change". A single nail was selected in each patient as the target nail. Selected nails were the big toenails with less than 50% involvement in 25 patients, the big toenails with 50% or more involvement in 52 patients, the fingernails in 10 patients and the second to fifth toenails in 19 patients with a mean treatment duration of 43.9, 38.1, 38.7 and 33.7 weeks, respectively. All groups showed an improvement in the percentage involvement from 30.6% to 9.8%, 77.6% to 35.7%, 82.7% to 17.6% and 80.3% to 15.5%, respectively (P < 0.01). The improvement rate (i.e. percentage of those rated as improved and better) was 76.0%, 65.4%, 80.0% and 89.5%, respectively. Efinaconazole 10% topical solution is beneficial for patients, regardless of age, severity or clinical type.

Oral therapy for onychomycosis: an evidence-based review

INTRODUCTION

Onychomycosis is a very common fungal infection of the nail apparatus; however, it is very hard to treat, even when the causative agent is identified, and usually requires prolonged systemic antifungal therapy. Until the 1990s, oral treatment options included only griseofulvin and ketoconazole, and the cure rate was very low. New generations of antimycotics, such as fluconazole, itraconazole and terbinafine have improved treatment success.

METHODS

Literature was identified by performing a PubMed Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid EMBASE, EBSCO CINAHL, and Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde (LILACS) search. Prospective and randomized clinical trials were chosen to be included in this review. Forty-six trials were included.

RESULTS

Fluconazole, itraconazole and terbinafine are effective in the treatment of onychomycosis and have a good safety profile. When a dermatophyte is the pathogen, terbinafine produces the best results. For Candida and nondermatophyte infections, the azoles, mainly itraconazole, are the recommended therapy.

CONCLUSION

In the majority of the studies, terbinafine treatment showed a higher cure ratio than the other drugs for dermatophyte onychomycosis.

Combination therapy consisting of week pulses of oral terbinafine plus topical application of terbinafine cream in the treatment of onychomycosis

BACKGROUND

Terbinafine, based on its pharmacokinetic properties, is a good candidate for pulse therapy. There are, as yet, no current guidelines for a terbinafine 1-week pulse regimine.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the optimal 1-week pulse dosing regimen for combination therapy of oral terbinafine with complementary 1% terbinafine cream for the treatment of onychomycosis.

DESIGN

A total of 69 onychomycosis patients received 250 mg terbinafine, given orally once daily for 7 days as 1-week pulses, separated by intervals of 2-3 weeks, until the desired improvement was observed. A daily application of 1% terbinafine cream was advised through to the evaluation date at 12 months follow-up. The treatment regimens were compared based on the number of pulses and the duration of treatment.

RESULTS

The 45 patients (65.2%) who achieved complete cure received an average of 7.8+/-3.5 pulse treatments over 4.8+/-2.6 months. The optimal terbinafine dosing regimen consisted of alternate 1-week pulses, with most patients on this regimen (19/20 cases; 95%) achieving total cure.

CONCLUSION

Favorable treatment outcome was gained from this terbinafine 1-week pulse regimen and also better compliance compared with a standard daily regimen.

Human pharmacogenomic variations and their implications for antifungal efficacy

Pharmacogenomics is defined as the study of the impacts of heritable traits on pharmacology and toxicology. Candidate genes with potential pharmacogenomic importance include drug transporters involved in absorption and excretion, phase I enzymes (e.g., cytochrome P450-dependent mixed-function oxidases) and phase II enzymes (e.g., glucuronosyltransferases) contributing to metabolism, and those molecules (e.g., albumin, A1-acid glycoprotein, and lipoproteins) involved in the distribution of antifungal compounds. By using the tools of population genetics to define interindividual differences in drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion, pharmacogenomic models for genetic variations in antifungal pharmacokinetics can be derived. Pharmacogenomic factors may become especially important in the treatment of immunocompromised patients or those with persistent or refractory mycoses that cannot be explained by elevated MICs and where rational dosage optimization of the antifungal agent may be particularly critical. Pharmacogenomics has the potential to shift the paradigm of therapy and to improve the selection of antifungal compounds and adjustment of dosage based upon individual variations in drug absorption, metabolism, and excretion.

Combination of pulse therapy with terbinafine tablets and topical terbinafine cream for the treatment of dermatophyte onychomycosis: A pilot study

We performed a pilot study to assess the safety and efficacy of pulse therapy with terbinafine tablets in 66 patients with dermatophyte onychomycosis. One pulse consisted of oral terbinafine tablets (500 mg/day) given for 1 week followed by a 3-week interval. Topical 1% terbinafine cream was applied daily. The number of pulses was determined by the extent of improvement in the affected nails and by the patient's requests, up to a maximum of six pulses. Efficacy was assessed based on both clinical and mycological examinations 1 year after treatment initiation. We observed a complete cure in 51 patients (77.3%), marked improvement in five patients (7.6%), improvement in five patients (7.6%) and slight improvement in one patient (1.5%). Four patients (6.0%) showed no change. In the patients who were completely cured, the average number of pulses used was 3.7 +/- 1.4 pulses and the treatment duration was 3.3 +/- 1.6 months. Nine patients experienced adverse effects, consisting of gastrointestinal disturbance (eight patients) and drug-induced eruption (one patient). There were no abnormal findings in the laboratory tests, including liver function tests. In summary, terbinafine pulse therapy in combination with topical application of terbinafine cream appeared safe and effective in this pilot study.

Safety and efficacy of oral terbinafine in the treatment of onychomycosis: Analysis of the elderly subgroup in improving results in ONychomycosis-concomitant lamisil® and debridement (IRON-CLAD), an open-label, randomized trial

OBJECTIVES

The primary objective of this subanalysis was to examine the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of terbinafine in the treatment of toenail onychomycosis in the patients aged > or = 65 years in the Improving Results in Onychomycosis Concomitant Lamisil And Debridement (IRON-CLAD) trial. (Lamisil and IRON-CLAD are trademarks of Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, East Hanover, New Jersey.) The secondary objective was to determine if toenail debridement would provide additional efficacy benefits in this subgroup.

METHODS

The IRON-CLAD trial was an open-label, randomized, multicenter study of adults who underwent 4 weeks of screening and received terbinafine 250 mg/d for 12 weeks with or without aggressive toenail debridement (at baseline and weeks 6, 12, and 24). Clinic visits occurred at weeks 6, 12, 24, and 48. Safety and tolerability were assessed by adverse event (AE) rates based on changes in laboratory values, patient-volunteered information, answers to investigator questions, and physical examinations. Efficacy was evaluated by mycologic cure (negative microscopy of potassium hydroxide samples and negative culture), clinical cure (> or = 87.5% nail clearing), and complete cure (mycologic cure and complete toenail clearing) at week 48. The present subanalysis of IRON-CLAD results assessed participants aged > or = 65 years (older subgroup).

RESULTS

A total of 504 patients were randomized, of whom 75 were aged > or = 65 years. In the older subgroup, the mean (SD) age was 68.9 (3.04), 86.7% (65/75) were white, and 66.7% (50/75) were male. Incidence of AEs reported during the treatment period or within 30 days after treatment discontinuation (treatment-emergent AEs [TEAEs]) was 28.0% in the older subgroup and 23.0% in the overall study population. Most TEAEs were mild (73.7%) to moderate (23.7%) in severity, and most (86.8%) were not suspected by the investigators to be related to study treatment. The most frequently occurring TEAEs in the older subgroup were nausea (4.0%), sinusitis (4.0%) arthralgia (2.7%), and hypercholesterolemia (2.7%). The proportion of participants who withdrew from the trial due to TEAEs was 4.0% (3/75) in the older group and 2.8% (14/504) in the overall population. Only 3 of 11 discontinuations in the older subgroup were due to a TEAE suspected by the investigator to be related to study treatment. Sixty-four percent of the older subgroup took antihypertensive medications, 25% took antidiabetics, and 47% took antilipemic medications. There were no clinical signs of drug interactions in the older subgroup. Clinical efficacy outcomes in the older subgroup were generally good and appeared to be comparable with those in the younger subgroup. At week 48, mycologic cure had occurred in 64.0% (95% CI, 53.1%-74.9%) of the older subgroup, clinical cure in 41.3% (95% CI, 30.2%-52.5%), and complete cure in 28.0% (95% CI, 17.8%-38.2%). Debridement did not appear to affect mycologic outcomes or clinical effectiveness, but rates of clinical and complete cure appeared to be higher among older patients who underwent adjuvant debridement.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this subanalysis suggest that terbinafine was well tolerated and efficacious in these patients aged > or = 65 years with moderate to severe toenail onychomycosis, many of whom were taking antihypertensives, antidiabetics, or lipid-lowering agents concomitantly. There were no reported clinical signs of drug interactions.

Onychomycosis: Recent Progress in the Epidemiology, Diagnosis and Treatment

Recent progress in the epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment of onychomycosis is summarized. The risk factors of this condition were investigated, and the results of analyses of the systemic state of patients, shape of nails, blood circulation around nails, nail growth rate and causative fungi were reported. In making a diagnosis of onychomycosis, the major effect of the quality of collected nail samples on the results was reconfirmed. In addition to the KOH method and culture method, a molecular biological method was introduced. From the therapeutic perspective, 1) prevention of recurrence, 2) identification of patients with high risk of onychomycosis, and 3) attempting new treatments (development of new drugs, improvement of administration and dosage, and evaluation of combined therapy) were discussed. The effectiveness of concomitant use with nail lacquer is anticipated in combined therapy. New studies on accurate diagnosis, early detection and early stage treatment are now being undertaken.

In vitro evaluation of griseofulvin against clinical isolates of dermatophytes from Isfahan. In-vitro-Empfindlichkeit klinischer Dermatophyten-Isolate aus Isfahan, Iran, gegenuber Griseofulvin

Fifty dermatophyte isolates, recently obtained from clinical materials, belonging to Trichophyton mentagrophytes, T. verrucosum, Microsporum canis and Epidermophyton floccosum were examined for their susceptibility to griseofulvin. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values were obtained using the modified microdilution method. All 100% tested isolates had MIC geometric mean at a concentration between 0.43 and 0.95 microg ml(-1) The MIC(90)s and MIC(50)s were 8 microg ml(-1) and <0.25-1 microg ml(-1) respectively. From all isolates, 12% including three T. verrucosum, one M. canis and two T. mentagrophytes isolates had MIC values out of the standardized range, therefore, they were considered as relatively griseofulvin-resistant. At least some of the isolates tested might be difficult to eradicate in clinical terms with griseofulvin treatment in Isfahan.

Cumulative meta-analysis of systemic antifungal agents for the treatment of onychomycosis

BACKGROUND

Onychomycosis is a common nail disease that is often chronic, difficult to eradicate, and has a tendency to recur. The most common oral therapies for dermatophyte toenail onychomycosis include terbinafine, itraconazole and fluconazole.

OBJECTIVES

A cumulative meta-analysis of the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for antimycotic agents was performed to determine whether the pooled estimate of the cure rates has remained consistent over the years. Furthermore, for each agent we compared the overall meta-analytical average of both mycological and clinical response rates of RCTs vs. open studies.

METHODS

We searched MEDLINE (1966 to November 2002) for relevant studies evaluating the efficacy of the oral antifungal agents terbinafine, itraconazole (pulse or continuous), fluconazole and griseofulvin for treating dermatophyte toenail onychomycosis. Studies included in this meta-analysis required a standard accepted dosage regimen, treatment duration and follow-up period. To determine the cumulative meta-analytical average, studies were sequentially pooled by adding one study at a time according to the date of publication (i.e. earliest to the most recent).

RESULTS

There were 36 studies included in the analyses. For RCTs the change in efficacy of mycological cure rates from the first trial to the overall cumulative meta-average for each drug comparator is as follows (with 95% confidence interval): terbinafine, 78 +/- 6% (n = 2 studies, 79 patients) to 76 +/- 3% (n = 18 studies, 993 patients) (P = 0.68); itraconazole pulse, 75 +/- 10% (n = 1 study, 20 patients) to 63 +/- 7% (n = 6 studies, 318 patients) (P = 0.25); itraconazole continuous, 63 +/- 5% (n = 1 study, 84 patients) to 59 +/- 5% (n = 7 studies, 1131 patients) (P = 0.47); fluconazole, 53 +/- 6% (n = 1 study, 72 patients) to 48 +/- 5% (n = 3 studies, 131 patients) (P = 0.50); and griseofulvin, 55 +/- 8% (n = 2 studies, 109 patients) to 60 +/- 6% (n = 3 studies, 167 patients) (P = 0.41). The cumulative meta-analytical average of mycological cure rates when comparing RCTs vs. open studies was: terbinafine, 76 +/- 3% (n = 18 studies, 993 patients) vs. 83 +/- 12% (n = 2 studies, 391 patients) (P = 0.0028); itraconazole pulse, 63 +/- 7% (n = 6 studies, 318 patients) vs. 84 +/- 9% (n = 3 studies, 194 patients) (P = 0.0001); and fluconazole, 48 +/- 5% (n = 3 studies, 131 patients) vs. 79 +/- 3% (n = 3 studies, 208 patients) (P = 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

The cumulative meta-analysis of cure rates for RCTs suggests that over time, as new RCTs have been conducted, the efficacy rates have remained consistent. The efficacy rates of open studies are substantially higher compared with RCTs and may therefore overestimate cure rates.

Prognostic factors of mycological cure following treatment of onychomycosis with oral antifungal agents

BACKGROUND

There is considerable literature on the efficacy and safety of various drugs used in treating onychomycosis; however, little information is available regarding prognostic factors which may be associated with non-response to conventional treatment.

OBJECTIVES

To identify parameters influencing mycological cure at 72 weeks following treatment of toenail onychomycosis with oral antifungal agents.

METHODS

Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis from a randomized double-blind controlled trial including 496 patients with toenail onychomycosis caused by dermatophytes.

RESULTS

Baseline parameters including patient's age, gender, weight, number of toenails involved, percentage of nail involvement, duration of infection, history of previous treatment were not associated with mycological cure. In the multivariate prognostic factor analysis based on factors assessed at week 12, positive mycological culture at 12 weeks [odds ratio (OR): 0.583; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.370-0.918] was negatively associated with mycological cure at 72 weeks. Similarly, in the multivariate prognostic factor analysis based on factors assessed at week 24, positive direct microscopy at 24 weeks (OR: 0.373; 95% CI: 0.211-0.659) and mycological culture at 24 weeks (OR: 0.293; 95% CI: 0.168-0.513) were negatively associated with mycological cure at 72 weeks.

CONCLUSIONS

Mycological culture at 12 and 24 weeks and direct microscopic examination at 24 weeks can help in early identification of patients failing to respond to conventional oral antifungal treatment.