Treatment of cutaneous sporotrichosis with one daily dose of potassium iodide.

BACKGROUND

Recommended treatment for cutaneous sporotrichosis consists of a saturated solution of potassium iodide (SSKI) administered in three daily doses (tid). Because compliance with this regimen has been a problem in our previous experience, we evaluated the use of one daily (qd) full dose of SSKI.

METHODS

Patients with culture-confirmed cutaneous sporotrichosis were entered in a randomized, nonblinded study to compare the safety and efficacy of qd vs. tid dosage of SSKI.

RESULTS

Fifty-seven patients were enrolled to receive either qd (29) or tid (28) SSKI. Three (1 in the qd and 2 in the tid group) were not compliant with the assigned regimen. Side effects were common but mild in both treatment groups (61% in the qd and 42% in the tid group, P = 0.17); treatment had to be discontinued because of side effects in 3 cases (2 in the qd and 1 in the tid group). Overall 26 (89.6%) and 25 (89.2%) of the individuals initially assigned to the qd and tid dosing schedule, respectively, were cured by the treatment. No relapse was detected after 45 days of follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that a single daily full dose of SSKI appears to be appropriate therapy for cutaneous sporotrichosis; further studies with larger numbers of patients are required.