A pilot study examining the role of zileuton in atopic dermatitis

Abstract

Background: Atopic dermatitis is a common chronic inflammatory skin condition. Current therapies are often insufficient to control the degree of inflammation and pruritus seen in this disease.

Objective: To examine the efficacy of zileuton in treating atopic dermatitis by measuring both subjective and objective outcome parameters.

Methods: This was an open-label pilot study using zileuton to treat atopic dermatitis. Following a 1-week run-in period off all corticosteroids and antihistamines, six adult patients received 6 weeks of zileuton 600 mg po QID. Subjects were not allowed to use their usual atopic dermatitis medications during the study. At baseline, and at 2, 4, and 6 weeks into the zileuton course, patients were asked to report on their disease dissatisfaction and their pruritus. Objective skin scoring was also performed by an examiner at these visits.

Results: Disease dissatisfaction score decreased from a mean of 8 (out of a possible 10) to 4.4 over the 6-week period (P = .03). Pruritus scores showed a trend toward improvement during the study, decreasing from a mean of 7.3 to 4.3 (out of a possible 10, P = .06). Objective skin erythema scores decreased from a baseline mean of 24 (out of a possible 60) to 14 following zileuton treatment (P = .03).

Conclusions: In this pilot study, zileuton showed efficacy in significantly improving the symptoms and objective skin findings seen in atopic dermatitis. The encouraging results seen in this trial should encourage larger, placebo-controlled studies looking at this novel approach toward treating this condition.