Itraconazole in the treatment of superficial mycoses: an open trial of 40 cases.

Forty patients with superficial mycoses were treated with itraconazole, a new triazole derivative, in an open study. In 29 cases the diagnosis was dermatophytosis; in five, candidosis; and in six, pityriasis versicolor. Each patient received 50 mg of itraconazole orally once a day for 30-60 days. Thirty-three patients completed therapy; at the end of therapy, 21.2% were considered clinically cured and 57.6% were considered mycologically cured. Results of direct microscopic examination were negative at 30 days for the patients with pityriasis versicolor; none of the patients with candidosis responded to therapy. Pruritus and other symptoms or signs of infection improved after the 15th day, but even after 60 days of therapy, nine of the 10 patients who finished the trial at that time had residual lesions. The drug was well tolerated. It appears that a dosage of 50 mg of itraconazole daily is not adequate for the treatment of these mycoses.