Comparison of a single 400 mg dose versus a 7-day 200 mg daily dose of itraconazole in the treatment of tinea versicolor

BACKGROUND: Tinea (pityriasis) versicolor is a superficial infection of the stratum corneum by the lipophilic fungus known as Malassezia furfur. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a 400 mg single dose or 7-day 200 mg daily dose of itraconazole capsules in the treatment of mycologically confirmed pityriasis versicolor. METHODS: A total of 50 patients were entered into a randomized, open, clinical trial comparing a 400 mg single dose (n=24 for group 1) with a 7-day 200 mg daily dose (n=26 for group 2) of itraconazole. Clinical signs and symptoms and mycologic evaluation (potassium hydroxide preparation and Wood's lamp) were performed before treatment, and at weeks 3 and 6 after treatment. RESULTS: Both regimens of itraconazole were effective. Our results showed that there were no significant differences in efficacy and safety between the two treatment regimens (chi-square tests, p>.0.05). CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of these findings, a single dose of itraconazole 400 mg/day was as effective as the 7-day 200 mg daily dose in the treatment of pityriasis versicolor.