Comparing the Therapeutic Efficacy of Pimecrolimus Cream With Betamethasone Cream for Discoid Lupus Erythematosus

Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences

Status: Completed

Conditions: Discoid Lupus Erythematosus

Treatments: Drug: betamethasone valerate 0.1% cream; Drug: Pimecrolimus 1% cream

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00608673

77

Details and patient eligibility

About

Discoid lupus erythematosus lesions are commonly treated with corticosteroids, but corticosteroids may induce side effects such as thinning of the skin or scarring. Therefore, an alternative medication with the same efficacy, but without the side-effects is sought after.

Pimecrolimus is a newer drug specially designed to treat inflammatory diseases of skin. Its efficacy in treating discoid lupus erythematosus has not been studied extensively yet. However studies performed till now show promising results. Long-term topical use of this medication has not shown any serious side-effects in other skin diseases.

In this study we aimed at comparing pimecrolimus efficacy with that of a common therapeutic choice, betamethasone valerate 0.1% cream, to see if pimecrolimus can be used as an alternative medication in treating discoid lupus erythematosus.

Enrollment: 10 patients

Sex: All

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Patients harboring discoid lupus erythematosus lesions on their face or neck

Exclusion criteria

• Patients with discoid lupus erythematosus in the setting of systemic lupus erythematosus
• Patients having a more disseminated disease

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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10 participants in 2 patient groups

1

Experimental group

Description:

Patients in arm one used twice daily pimecrolimus 1% cream on their facial discoid lupus erythematosus lesions for 8 weeks.

Treatment:

Drug: Pimecrolimus 1% cream

2

Active Comparator group

Description:

Twice daily betamethasone valerate 0.1% cream to facial lesions of discoid lupus erythematosus for 8 weeks

Treatment:

Drug: betamethasone valerate 0.1% cream