Relapses of Onychomycosis after Successful Treatment with Systemic Antifungals: A Three-Year Follow-Up

Abstract

This study shows that 22.2% of patients with onychomycosis successfully treated with systemic antifungals experienced a relapse. The relapse rate increased from 8. 3% at month 12 to 19.4% at month 24 and to 22.2% at month 36. Relapses were more common in patients treated with pulse itraconazole (4/11) than in patients treated with continuous (2/12) or intermittent (2/13) terbinafine. Statistical analysis did not reveal any significant difference between relapse rates in the three groups.