Is the Use of Itraconazole Effective in the Treatment of Patients Diagnosed With Tinea Versicolor and If So, What Is the Optimal Dosage?

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not itraconazole is effective in the treatment of patients diagnosed with tinea versicolor and if so, what is the optimal dosage. STUDY DESIGN: Review of three peer-reviewed, randomized control trials (RCTs), two of which were published in 2002 and one in 2010. DATA SOURCES: Studies were researched through PubMed and selected based on the type of study (RCT), their relevance to the clinical question, and if they were POEMS (patient oriented evidence that matters). OUTCOME(S) MEASURED: Patient’s subjective measurement of the severity of pruritis, erythema, scaling, and pigment changes after treatment. Outcomes were also measured by a Wood’s lamp examination and a KOH preparation. RESULTS: Itraconazole was shown to be effective in treating tinea versicolor both clinically and mycologically. Patients reported a decrease in scaling, pigment changes, and pruritis, and their Wood’s lamp examination and KOH preparation were also negative. Of the two studies that reported p-values, one showed that the results were statistically significant (p 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: All three studies showed that itraconazole produced favorable results in the treatment of tinea versicolor and a single dose was an effective alternative to a seven day regimen. A single dose is also more advantageous because of decreased cost and increased compliance. Itraconazole is also effective as prophylaxis for tinea versicolor when taken one day each month