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Ridd MJ, Wells S, MacNeill SJ, Sanderson E, Webb D, Banks J, Sutton E, Shaw AR, Wilkins Z, Clayton J, Roberts A, Garfield K, Liddiard L, Barrett TJ, Lane JA, Baxter H, Howells L, Taylor J, Hay AD, Williams HC, Thomas KS, Santer M. Comparison of lotions, creams, gels and ointments for the treatment of childhood eczema: the BEE RCT. Health Technol Assess 2023; 27:1-120. [PMID: 37924282 PMCID: PMC10679965 DOI: 10.3310/gzqw6681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Emollients are recommended for children with eczema (atopic eczema/dermatitis). A lack of head-to-head comparisons of the effectiveness and acceptability of the different types of emollients has resulted in a 'trial and error' approach to prescribing. Objective To compare the effectiveness and acceptability of four commonly used types of emollients for the treatment of childhood eczema. Design Four group, parallel, individually randomised, superiority randomised clinical trials with a nested qualitative study, completed in 2021. A purposeful sample of parents/children was interviewed at ≈ 4 and ≈ 16 weeks. Setting Primary care (78 general practitioner surgeries) in England. Participants Children aged between 6 months and 12 years with eczema, of at least mild severity, and with no known sensitivity to the study emollients or their constituents. Interventions Study emollients sharing the same characteristics in the four types of lotion, cream, gel or ointment, alongside usual care, and allocated using a web-based randomisation system. Participants were unmasked and the researcher assessing the Eczema Area Severity Index scores was masked. Main outcome measures The primary outcome was Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure scores over 16 weeks. The secondary outcomes were Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure scores over 52 weeks, Eczema Area Severity Index score at 16 weeks, quality of life (Atopic Dermatitis Quality of Life, Child Health Utility-9 Dimensions and EuroQol-5 Dimensions, five-level version, scores), Dermatitis Family Impact and satisfaction levels at 16 weeks. Results A total of 550 children were randomised to receive lotion (analysed for primary outcome 131/allocated 137), cream (137/140), gel (130/135) or ointment (126/138). At baseline, 86.0% of participants were white and 46.4% were female. The median (interquartile range) age was 4 (2-8) years and the median Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure score was 9.3 (SD 5.5). There was no evidence of a difference in mean Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure scores over the first 16 weeks between emollient types (global p = 0.765): adjusted Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure pairwise differences - cream-lotion 0.42 (95% confidence interval -0.48 to 1.32), gel-lotion 0.17 (95% confidence interval -0.75 to 1.09), ointment-lotion -0.01 (95% confidence interval -0.93 to 0.91), gel-cream -0.25 (95% confidence interval -1.15 to 0.65), ointment-cream -0.43 (95% confidence interval -1.34 to 0.48) and ointment-gel -0.18 (95% confidence interval -1.11 to 0.75). There was no effect modification by parent expectation, age, disease severity or the application of UK diagnostic criteria, and no differences between groups in any of the secondary outcomes. Median weekly use of allocated emollient, non-allocated emollient and topical corticosteroids was similar across groups. Overall satisfaction was highest for lotions and gels. There was no difference in the number of adverse reactions and there were no significant adverse events. In the nested qualitative study (n = 44 parents, n = 25 children), opinions about the acceptability of creams and ointments varied most, yet problems with all types were reported. Effectiveness may be favoured over acceptability. Parents preferred pumps and bottles over tubs and reported improved knowledge about, and use of, emollients as a result of taking part in the trial. Limitations Parents and clinicians were unmasked to allocation. The findings may not apply to non-study emollients of the same type or to children from more ethnically diverse backgrounds. Conclusions The four emollient types were equally effective. Satisfaction with the same emollient types varies, with different parents/children favouring different ones. Users need to be able to choose from a range of emollient types to find one that suits them. Future work Future work could focus on how best to support shared decision-making of different emollient types and evaluations of other paraffin-based, non-paraffin and 'novel' emollients. Trial registration This trial is registered as ISRCTN84540529 and EudraCT 2017-000688-34. Funding This project was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment programme (HTA 15/130/07) and will be published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 27, No. 19. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Ridd
- Centre for Academic Primary Care, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Sian Wells
- Centre for Academic Primary Care, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | | | | | - Douglas Webb
- Centre for Academic Primary Care, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Jonathan Banks
- National Institute for Health and Care Research Collaborations for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care West, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, UK
| | - Eileen Sutton
- Centre for Academic Primary Care, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Alison Rg Shaw
- Centre for Academic Primary Care, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Zoe Wilkins
- Centre for Academic Primary Care, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Julie Clayton
- Centre for Academic Primary Care, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Amanda Roberts
- Nottingham Support Group for Carers of Children with Eczema, Nottingham, UK
| | | | - Lyn Liddiard
- Centre for Academic Primary Care, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Tiffany J Barrett
- South West Medicines Information and Training, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, UK
| | - J Athene Lane
- Bristol Randomised Trials Collaboration, Bristol Trials Centre, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Helen Baxter
- Centre for Academic Primary Care, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Laura Howells
- Centre of Evidence Based Dermatology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Jodi Taylor
- Bristol Trials Centre, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Alastair D Hay
- Centre for Academic Primary Care, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Hywel C Williams
- Centre of Evidence Based Dermatology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Kim S Thomas
- Centre of Evidence Based Dermatology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Miriam Santer
- Primary Care Research Centre, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
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Oakley R, Arents BWM, Lawton S, Danby S, Surber C. Topical corticosteroid vehicle composition and implications for clinical practice. Clin Exp Dermatol 2020; 46:259-269. [PMID: 33108015 DOI: 10.1111/ced.14473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Revised: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 08/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
This narrative review highlights the therapeutic significance of topical corticosteroid (TCS) vehicles and provides subsequent guidance to improve clinical and research outcomes. A greater understanding of the relationship between the topical vehicle, corticosteroid and skin is needed to ensure safer, more effective treatment for patients. Topical vehicles are not inert and can affect TCS bioavailability, due to the ability of their composition to positively or negatively influence skin status and change the physiochemical characteristics of an inherent corticosteroid. However, this principle is not commonly understood, and has contributed to inconsistencies in potency classification systems. This review provides an insight into the research methods and standardization needed to determine TCS product bioavailability. It identifies formulation components responsible for vehicle composition that underpin the quality, stability, compounding and functionalities of vehicle ingredients. This helps to contextualize how topical vehicles can be responsible for clinically significant effects, and how their composition gives products unique properties. In turn, this facilitates a more in-depth understanding of which resources offer information to inform the best selection of TCS products and why products should be prescribed by brand or manufacturer. This review will better equip clinicians and formulary teams to appraise products. It will also inform prescribing of Specials and why products should not be manipulated. The recommendations, accompanied by patient perspectives on using TCS products, assist clinical decision-making. They also identify the need for research into concomitant application of TCS products with other topical therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Oakley
- St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - B W M Arents
- Dutch Association for People with Atopic Dermatitis, Nijkerk, Netherlands
| | - S Lawton
- Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust, Rotherham, UK
| | - S Danby
- Sheffield Dermatology Research, Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield Medical School, Sheffield, UK
| | - C Surber
- Institute of Hospital Pharmacy, Department of Dermatology and Department of Pharmacy, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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Siemiradzka W, Dolińska B, Ryszka F. Development and Study of Semi-Solid Preparations Containing the Model Substance Corticotropin (ACTH): Convenience Application in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25081824. [PMID: 32316183 PMCID: PMC7222002 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25081824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2020] [Revised: 04/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Corticotropin (ACTH, previously an adrenocorticotropic hormone) is used in the diagnosis and treatment of pituitary gland disorders, adrenal cortex disorders, and other diseases, including autoimmune polymyositis, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis. So far, the ointment dosage form containing ACTH for use on the skin is unknown. Therefore, it seems appropriate to develop a semi-solid formulation with corticotropin. Emulsion ointments were prepared using an Unguator based on the cream base Lekobaza® containing corticotropin in different concentrations, and then the physical and chemical parameters of the ointment formulations, such as pH, spreadability, rheological properties, and texture analysis, were evaluated. In addition, a USP apparatus 2 with enhancer cells was utilized to study the in vitro drug release characteristics of the selected formulations. All the ointments obtained were characterized by good spreadability and viscosity. An analysis of the ointment texture was performed and the dependence of the tested parameters on the ACTH content in the ointment was demonstrated. Examination of the structure of the ointment showed that a high concentration of ACTH increases the hardness and adhesiveness of the ointment. In turn, it adversely affects the cohesiveness and elasticity of the ointments tested. The results of the release study showed that ACTH is released the fastest from the formulation with the lowest concentration, while the slowest from the ointment with the highest concentration of ACTH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wioletta Siemiradzka
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmacy with the Division of Laboratory Medicine in Sosnowiec, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +48-322699820; Fax: +48-322699821
| | - Barbara Dolińska
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmacy with the Division of Laboratory Medicine in Sosnowiec, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland;
- “Biochefa” Pharmaceutical Research and Production Plant, 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland;
| | - Florian Ryszka
- “Biochefa” Pharmaceutical Research and Production Plant, 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland;
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