CompletedNot Applicable

Comparison of Combination of Itraconazole and Isotretinoin Versus Itraconazole Alone in the Treatment of Resistant Trichophyton Infection

Pakistan148 participantsStarted 2025-01-29

Plain-language summary

Dermatophytosis caused by Trichophyton species is a common superficial fungal infection of the skin, hair, and nails. Increasing reports of persistent or recurrent disease after standard antifungal therapy have raised concern for treatment resistance and incomplete clearance of fungal elements from keratinised tissues. Itraconazole is a widely used systemic antifungal for Trichophyton infection, however relapse after treatment can occur. Isotretinoin is an oral retinoid that reduces skin oil production and modifies keratinisation, and it may change the skin environment in a way that helps prevent persistence or recurrence of dermatophyte infection. This study will compare a combination regimen of oral itraconazole plus oral isotretinoin with oral itraconazole alone in adults with laboratory-confirmed Trichophyton infection. This comparative clinical study will be conducted in the Dermatology Department of Multan Medical and Dental College and Ibn-E-Siena Hospital and Research Institute. Adults aged 18 to 65 years with clinical features suggestive of dermatophytosis will be screened, and only participants with confirmed Trichophyton infection on potassium hydroxide microscopy and or fungal culture will be enrolled. A total of 148 participants will be randomly allocated in equal numbers to one of two groups. One group will receive oral itraconazole plus low-dose oral isotretinoin for the study treatment period, and the other group will receive oral itraconazole alone at the same itraconazole dose and duration. Use of additional systemic antifungals or systemic retinoids during the treatment period will not be permitted. The primary purpose is to determine whether adding isotretinoin to itraconazole improves treatment effectiveness and reduces recurrence. Outcomes will include clinical cure at the end of treatment, mycological cure based on negative potassium hydroxide microscopy at the end of treatment, time to symptom resolution, and relapse within the predefined follow-up period, assessed during scheduled follow-up visits. Safety will be monitored at each visit, including adverse drug reactions and laboratory testing as required. Liver function testing will be performed for all participants, lipid profile monitoring will be performed for participants receiving isotretinoin, and pregnancy testing and counselling on strict pregnancy avoidance will be provided for women of childbearing potential due to the known risk of fetal harm with isotretinoin.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 65 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Age 18 to 65 years * Clinical features suggestive of dermatophytosis * Laboratory-confirmed Trichophyton infection at baseline * Provision of written informed consent * Ability and willingness to comply with treatment, follow-up visits, and required laboratory monitoring Exclusion Criteria: * Negative potassium hydroxide microscopy and no culture evidence of Trichophyton infection at baseline * Infection caused by non-Trichophyton dermatophytes on culture, or no growth on culture where culture is used for confirmation * Use of additional systemic antifungal therapy during the treatment period (not permitted by protocol) * Use of systemic retinoids other than study-assigned isotretinoin during the treatment period (not permitted by protocol) * Pregnancy at baseline in women of childbearing potential, or inability or unwillingness to follow strict pregnancy avoidance requirements during and after isotretinoin therapy * Any contraindication to itraconazole or isotretinoin, including known hypersensitivity to either drug * Clinically significant baseline liver dysfunction or abnormal liver function tests considered unsafe for systemic itraconazole and or isotretinoin use

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Clinical cure

Timeframe: Up to 8 weeks

Mycological cure

Timeframe: up to 8 weeks

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07420894

SponsorMultan Medical And Dental College

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2025-07-28

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Dermatophytosis trials