Combined therapy in vulvar lichen sclerosus: does topical tretinoin improve the efficacy of mometasone furoate?

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Combined therapy in vulvar lichen sclerosus: does topical tretinoin improve the efficacy of mometasone furoate?

J Dermatolog Treat. 2016 Dec 26;:1-15

Authors: Borghi A, Minghetti S, Toni G, Virgili A, Corazza M

Abstract
Purpose To assess efficacy and safety profile of combining a potent corticosteroid with a retinoid in in the treatment of vulvar lichen sclerosus (VLS). Methods We retrospectively compared 21 VLS patients treated with tretinoin (T) in short contact therapy and mometasone furoate (MMF) (group A) and 20 treated with cold cream (CC) and MMF (group B) for 5 consecutive days/week for 12 weeks. The efficacy parameters were the response rate, the percentage of patients achieving an improvement from baseline of ≥75% in subjective and objective scores, and the mean reduction in subjective and objective scores. Results Thirteen patients (75.2%) were considered responders in group A and 15 (78.9%) in group B; 50% and 61.1% of patients in group A and 100% and 63.1% in group B achieved an improvement of at least 75% in subjective and objective scores, respectively. The scheme combining MMF and CC was better tolerated than the combination of MMF and T. Conclusions The combination with a topical retinoid did not enhance the effectiveness of a potent corticosteroid in the treatment of VLS. Either the scarce efficacy of the short contact therapy regimen or a less favourable safety profile of such combination may account for these findings.

PMID: 28024127 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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