Comparing the efficacy of field treatments for actinic keratosis: a critical appraisal of a randomized trial in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Abstract

Jansen etal. conducted a randomized trial to compare the efficacy of four field treatments for actinic keratosis (AK). This was a multicentre, single-blind, randomized trial conducted in the dermatology departments of four Netherlands hospitals. Patients were not blinded. The investigator who evaluated the trial outcome was blinded. This study included adult patients with at least five AKs on the face or vertex scalp. Patients were randomized to treatment with fluorouracil 5% cream, imiquimod 5% cream, methyl aminolaevulinate photodynamic therapy (MAL-PDT) or ingenol mebutate 0·015% gel. The primary outcome was whether patients had ≥ 75% reduction in AK count 12 months after treatment. In total 624 patients participated. The likelihood of having ≥ 75% reduction in AK count 12 months after treatment was significantly higher (twice as high or greater) for fluorouracil than for any other therapy. Approximately 75% of patients treated with fluorouracil experienced ≥ 75% reduction in AK count at 12 months. Jansen etal. conclude that 1 year after treatment, fluorouracil was significantly more effective at AK reduction than imiquimod, MAL-PDT or ingenol mebutate.