Abstract:

Li Sitong, Nong Xiang, Liu Tongyun, Gu Hua, Yang Zhi, He Li. Department of Dermatology, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University; Institute of Dermatology and Venereology of Yunnan Province; Engineering Research Center of Yunnan Province, Kunming 650032, China Corresponding author: He Li, Email: drheli2662@126.com 【Abstract】 Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of hydroxychloroquine combined with butyli flufenamatum ointment and other drugs for the treatment of polymorphous light eruption （PLE）. Methods A total of 48 patients with PLE were randomly and equally classified into group 1 and group 2. Both groups took hydroxychloroquine 200 mg twice a day and loratadine 10 mg per day for the initial 4 weeks, then took hydroxychloroquine 100 mg twice a day alone for another 4 weeks. Group 1 also topically applied butyli flufenamatum ointment twice a day during the 8 weeks, while group 2 applied mometasone furoate cream twice a day for the first 2 weeks followed by butyli flufenamatum ointment twice a day for another 6 weeks. Each treatment cycle lasted 2 weeks, and both groups received 4 cycles of treatment. Patients were evaluated for the response rate at the end of each cycle, and for the total symptom score and erythema score before and after the 8-week treatment. Statistical analysis was carried out using t test, chi-square test, Fisher′s exact test and repeated-measures analysis of variance with the SPSS17.0 software. Results On day 14, 28, 42 and 56, the total score improved in 0, 3, 12 and 19 patients in group 1 respectively, and in 1, 4, 12 and 20 patients in group 2 respectively; the erythema score improved in 1, 5, 13 and 18 patients in group 1 respectively, and in 0, 5, 11 and 17 patients in group 2 respectively. No significant difference was observed between the two groups in response rates at any of the above four time points （P > 0.05）. Both the total score and erythema score significantly decreased after the 8-week treatment in both groups compared with the pretreatment scores （both P < 0.05）. No serious adverse reaction was observed in either of the two groups. Conclusions Hydroxychloroquine combined with loratadine and butyli flufenamatum ointment shows high efficacy and safety for the treatment of PLE. Topical butyli flufenamatum ointment is highly effective for the treatment of PLE, especially for PLE cases mainly presenting with erythema.