Weekly azathioprine pulse versus daily azathioprinein the treatment of Parthenium dermatitis: A non-inferiority randomized controlled study.
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Date
2015-05
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Abstract
Background: Azathioprine in daily doses has been shown to be effective and safe in the
treatment of Parthenium dermatitis. Weekly pulses of azathioprine (WAP) are also effective,
but there are no reports comparing the effectiveness and safety of these two regimens in
this condition. Aims: To study the effi cacy and safety of WAP and daily azathioprine in
Parthenium dermatitis. Methods: Sixty patients with Parthenium dermatitis were randomly
assigned to treatment with azathioprine 300 mg weekly pulse or azathioprine 100 mg daily for
6 months. Patients were evaluated every month to assess the response to treatment and
side effects. Results: The study included 32 patients in the weekly azathioprine group and
28 in the daily azathioprine group, of whom 25 and 22 patients respectively completed
the study. Twenty-three (92%) patients on WAP and 21 (96%) on daily azathioprine had a
good or excellent response. The mean pretreatment clinical severity score decreased from
26.4 ± 14.5 to 4.7 ± 5.1 in the WAP group, and from 36.1 ± 18.1 to 5.7 ± 6.0 in the daily
azathioprine group, which was statistically signifi cant and comparable (P = 0.366). Patients
on WAP had a higher incidence of adverse effects (P = 0.02). Limitations: The study had
a small sample size and the amount of clobetasol propionate used in each patient was not
determined, though it may not have affected the study outcome due to its comparable use
in both groups. Conclusions: Azathioprine 300 mg weekly pulse and 100 mg daily dose are
equally effective and safe in the treatment of Parthenium dermatitis.
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Keywords
Azathioprine, Parthenium dermatitis, pulse, side effects, treatment
Citation
Verma Kaushal K, Sethuraman G, Kalavani M. Weekly azathioprine pulse versus daily azathioprinein the treatment of Parthenium dermatitis: A non-inferiority randomized controlled study. Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology. 2015 May-Jun; 81(3): 251-256.