Systemic therapy of onychomycosis of the feet with terbinafine: dynamics of nail rehabilitation and quality of life

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Systemic therapy with terbinafine (Exifin) forms the basis of any treatment programs for onychomycosis of the feet of dermatomycete etiology. At the same time, the available literature presents relatively little data on the efficacy and safety of systemic terbinafine drugs for individual age groups; and there are practically no such studies based on a large statistical sample with a simultaneous assessment of the dynamics of the quality of life indicator. AIMS: To study the use of the drug Exifin tablets in certain age groups of patients with mycosis and onychomycosis in clinical practice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was a multicenter observational (non-interventional) study involving 1602 patients with varying degrees of severity of onychomycosis of the feet/hands. The patients were divided into 4 age groups, each of which was divided into subgroups according to the severity of onychomycosis, from very mild to extremely severe. The positive dynamics of regression of symptoms, improvement of the quality of life according to the survey scale, the presence or absence of significant adverse reactions were evaluated. RESULTS: In all 1602 patients, positive dynamics from the skin process was obtained in the form of regression of onychomycosis symptoms. The best results on the speed of nail sanitization were obtained in more young age groups with a mild degree of onychomycosis. The lowest rate of regrowth of a healthy nail plate was observed in the age groups 4560 years and over 60 years. In the same age groups, the greatest number of persistent onychodystrophy remained after the eradication of the fungus. In all age groups, there was a positive trend in the quality of life: at the end of treatment, 67% of patients rated the quality of life as excellent and good, and another 24.1% ― satisfactory. No adverse events were recorded in any clinical case. CONCLUSION: Systemic therapy with terbinafine in onychomycosis of the feet/hands is a highly effective component in the combination treatment, allowing to achieve eradication of the fungus in 8590% of cases.