Therapeutic efficacy and safety of one-week intermittent therapy with itraconazole for onychomycosis in a Chinese patient population

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a 1-week intermittent itraconazole dosing schedule for onychomycosis. Methods: In this multicenter, open-label study, 646 patients received itraconazole 200 mg twice daily for 1 week/month, followed by 3 weeks without therapy. Patients with fingernail infections received 2 treatment cycles, patients with toenail or combined toenail and fingernail infections received 3 cycles. Efficacy was evaluated at week 9 (2-month regimen), week 13 (3-month regimen) and 3, 6 or 9 (toenails only) months after completion of therapy. Results: Clinical and mycologic cure rates for fingernails were greater than 90% 6 months after completion of 2 treatment cycles. Clinical and mycologic cure rates for toenails were 84 and 98%, respectively, 9 months after completion of 3 cycles. Treatment was well tolerated; adverse events (mostly mild) occurred in 4.6% of patients. Conclusion: A 1-week intermittent itraconazole dosing regimen is a safe and effective treatment for onychomycosis.