Onychomycosis due to Neoscytalidium treated with oral terbinafine, ciclopirox nail lacquer and nail abrasion: a pilot study of 25 patients

Abstract

Background: Onychomycosis by Neoscytalidium constitutes chronic infection of the nails, and its frequency has increased in recent decades. Currently, no effective standard treatment exists and literature data remain scarce. This work aimed to conduct a pilot project of combined treatment for this infection.

Methods: Thirty patients were divided into three treatment groups: oral terbinafine plus ciclopirox nail lacquer twice a week; ciclopirox nail lacquer twice a week; and ciclopirox nail lacquer 5 days a week, all associated with nail abrasion when required, for 12 months, with 6 months posttreatment follow-up. Clinical and mycological criteria were used for evaluation.

Results: Twenty-five patients completed the study. Significant clinical lesion reduction in disease occurred in all three treatment groups: 21 patients (84%) entered the study with more than 50% of diseased nail plate, at the end of treatment, and at 6-month follow-up, 84 and 96%, respectively, presented less than 25% nail lesion. Negative microscopy was observed in 36% of the patients at the end of treatment and in 24% of the patients at 6-month follow-up. At treatment completion (12 months), culture was negative in 21 patients (84%) and in 18 (72%) at follow-up. It was not possible to establish any clinical or mycological statistical differences between groups (p > 0.05). Global medical evaluation upon treatment completion revealed that one patient (4%) presented complete cure, 8 (32%) presented partial cure, 16 (64%) presented therapeutic failure. At the end of follow-up period, 6 patients (24%) were considered to have recurrence/reinfection.

Conclusions: The results obtained at the 6-month period of follow-up showed marked improvement (96% of clinical improvement and 72% of negative culture) of the patients treated for onychomycosis caused by Neoscytalidium in the three tested groups with no statistical differences between them. Multicentric studies with greater number of patients enrolled are necessary to confirm these results.