Effect of topical steroid (0.05% clobetasol propionate) treatment in children with severe phimosis

The efficacy of topical 0.1% mometasone furoate for treating symptomatic severe phimosis: A comparison of two treatment regimens

BACKGROUND

Twice daily 0.1% mometasone furoate is an effective treatment for phimosis in children. However, mometasone furoate has an important therapeutic advantage because it is effective in once-daily applications. This study was to compare the efficacy of two different topical 0.1% mometasone furoate regimens for the treatment of symptomatic severe phimosis in pediatric patients.

METHODS

A total of 1,689 patients with symptomatic severe phimosis classified by the Kikiros system were prospectively enrolled in the study from March 2018 to February 2021. A total of 855 patients received 0.1% mometasone furoate twice-daily (BID group) and 834 patients received 0.1% mometasone furoate once-daily (QD group) for 4 weeks.

RESULTS

A total of 1,595 boys completed the treatment (798 and 797 in the BID and QD groups, respectively). The success rate of the BID group was higher than that of the QD group at the end of week 2 (44.8% vs. 33.3%, P < 0.05), while there was no difference in the success rate at 4 weeks and 3 months between the two groups (70.7% vs. 69.7%, and 66.8% vs. 64.9%, respectively) (P > 0.05). In both treatment groups, the success rate of grade 5 phimosis was lower than that of grade 4 at 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 3 months. A total of 83 patients experienced recurrence of phimosis. Only fifteen patients had local mild adverse drug reactions.

CONCLUSION

Topical application of 0.1% mometasone furoate once-daily or twice-daily for 4 weeks had comparable efficacy in children with symptomatic severe phimosis. A once a day regimen may be more suitable for children. Topical steroid application is more effective in children with low-grade phimosis than those with high-grade phimosis.

Outcome of topical steroid application in children with non-retractile prepuce

True phimosis is overdiagnosed due to the failure to distinguish it from physiological phimosis, which is a normal developmental non retractability of the foreskin. The non-retractile prepuce in children is a cause of parental anxiety and concern. This leads to the majority of the children undergoing surgical procedures. Pathological phimosis needs to be differentiated from physiologic phimosis to avoid unnecessary circumcision. In recent years, topical steroid application use in cases of non-retractile prepuce has shown a good success rate and is well accepted by the parents. It has low risks, is cost effective and avoids anaesthetic and surgical complications. This is an observational study of 100 children with non-retractile foreskin who were managed by local application of topical steroid cream (0.1% Mometasone) over a period of 6 weeks. The non-retractibility was classified according to Kikiro's classification. These patients were analyzed on the basis of age at presentation, complaints at the first presentation, grade of phimosis at first presentation (as per Kikiro's classification), results of the topical steroid application as assessed at 6 weeks after starting application and after stopping of the steroid administered for 6 weeks. The results were analyzed on the basis of the resolution of symptoms and the decrease in Kikiro's grade. Those patients in whom there was no response to treatment or who developed recurrence after stopping steroid treatment underwent circumcision. A total of 19 patients required surgical intervention in the form of circumcision. The use of topical steroids yields satisfactory results in patients with a non-retractile prepuce. It could be a first-line treatment for management in such cases and is an effective alternative designed to avoid unnecessary circumcision.

Human foreskin fibroblasts: from waste bag to important biomedical applications

Circumcision is one of the most performed surgical procedures worldwide, and it is estimated that one in three men worldwide is circumcised, which makes the preputial skin removed after surgery an abundant material for possible applications. In particular, it is possible efficiently to isolate the cells of the foreskin, with fibroblasts being the most abundant cells of the dermis and the most used in biomedical research. This work aimed to review the knowledge and obtain a broad view of the main applications of human foreskin fibroblast cell culture. A literature search was conducted, including clinical trials, preclinical basic research studies, reviews and experimental studies. Several medical and laboratory applications of human foreskin fibroblast cell culture have been described, especially when it comes to the use of human foreskin fibroblasts as feeder cells for the cultivation of human embryonic stem cells, in addition to co-culture with other cell types. The culture of foreskin fibroblasts has also been used to: obtain induced pluripotent stem cells; the diagnosis of Clostridium difficile; to test the toxicity and effect of substances on normal cells, especially the toxicity of possible antineoplastic drugs; in viral culture, mainly of the human cytomegalovirus, study of the pathogenesis of other microorganisms; varied studies of cellular physiology and cellular interactions. Fibroblasts are important for cell models for varied application cultures, demonstrating how the preputial material can be reused, making possible new applications.

Level of evidence: Not applicable for this multicentre audit.

Treating umbilical granuloma with topical clobetasol propionate cream at home is as effective as treating it with topical silver nitrate in the clinic

AIM

There is a lack of evidence on the best treatment option for umbilical granuloma. The primary aim of this study was to compare three treatments for umbilical granuloma: standard treatment with topical silver nitrate, clobetasol propionate cream (0.05%) and ethanol wipes. The secondary aim was to evaluate whether the treatment could be successfully administered by a parent at home, rather than in the outpatient clinic.

METHODS

A total of 109 infants were randomised to one of three groups and 94 infants completed the assigned treatment: 30 infants received standard treatment with silver nitrate (99%) in the outpatient clinic, 30 infants had topical clobetasol propionate cream (0.05%) applied at home, and 34 infants received cleansing with ethanol wipes (82%) at home.

RESULTS

Silver nitrate and clobetasol propionate cream (0.05%) were significantly superior to ethanol wipes, with shorter healing times and higher resolution rates (p = 0.0001). Healing time and resolution rates were identical for silver nitrate and clobetasol propionate cream (0.05%). Mild side effects were occasionally reported, all of which were self-limiting.

CONCLUSION

Treating umbilical granuloma with topical clobetasol propionate cream (0.05%) at home is as effective as treating it with topical silver nitrate (99%) in the clinic.