Azathioprine versus betamethasone for the treatment of parthenium dermatitis: A randomized controlled study

Abstract

Azathioprine and betamethasone appear to be almost equally effective (P=0.0156 vs. 0.0005) in the treatment of parthenium dermatitis. However, adverse effects and relapses were observed to be more frequent in patients treated with betamethasone.

Weekly azathioprine pulse versus daily azathioprine in the treatment of Parthenium dermatitis: A non-inferiority randomized controlled study

“…[8] Similarly in another study, azathioprine weekly pulse dose showed an excellent response in 58% (7/12) patients and good response in 42% (5/12) patients with a reduction in clinical severity score from 40.40 ± 7.95 to 10.9 ± 8.43 (P = 0.002) which was statistically highly significant and the therapy was well tolerated without any significant side effects. [10] There were no significant changes in the laboratory parameters in any of these patients.…”

“…azathioprine weekly pulse and azathioprine daily dose are comparable with the earlier studies. [8,10] Gastrointestinal side effects were, however, more frequently observed in azathioprine weekly pulse group (P = 0.02) [ Table 3] which were managed conservatively without stopping therapy in any patient. Also there were no significant changes in titer of contact hypersensitivity value in either group which is consistent with our earlier observations, showing no correlation between the titer of contact hypersensitivity and severity of disease and/or response to treatment.…”

“…[3,4] Azathioprine, a 6-mercaptopurine derivative, is a strong immunosuppressive agent which acts by inhibiting activated T-lymphocytes and also has a potent anti-inflammatory effect. It has been demonstrated to be very effective in the treatment of Parthenium dermatitis [7,8] due to its profound effect on T-lymphocytes, [5] the cells mainly responsible for causing dermatitis. The safety and toxicity of azathioprine have been well studied and the drug has been found to be safe even on long term use without significant side effects.…”

“…[3,4] Azathioprine, an immunosuppressive drug, which acts by inhibiting the activated T lymphocytes, has emerged as an effective and safe alternative. [5] In earlier studies, we demonstrated that azathioprine 100 mg daily was effective, [6][7][8] safe for long-term use, and could induce lasting remissions in Parthenium dermatitis. [9] In a small open study, we also demonstrated that 300 mg weekly pulse doses of azathioprine was not only effective and safe in the treatment of Parthenium dermatitis, but reduced the cost of treatment by 60% and encouraged compliance (since only four doses of the drug were taken in a month).…”

Hand Dermatitis: A Review of Clinical Features, Prevention and Treatment

“…There is efficacy evidence from small RCTs in airborne contact dermatitis and chronic actinic dermatosis, but no studies in chronic hand dermatitis to our knowledge. Parthenium dermatitis is the most common airborne contact dermatitis in India [85]. Azathioprine 100 mg daily was as effective as a systemic corticosteroid (betamethasone 2 mg daily) over a period of 6 months in a doubleblind RCT with 41 patients.…”