Effectiveness of acyclovir in the treatment of pityriasis rosea. A systematic review and meta-analysis



Document title: Effectiveness of acyclovir in the treatment of pityriasis rosea. A systematic review and meta-analysis
Journal: Anais brasileiros de dermatologia
Database: PERIÓDICA
System number: 000422033
ISSN: 0365-0596
Authors: 1
2
3
Institutions: 1Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Hospital Nacional Daniel Alcides Carrión, Lima. Perú
2Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Hospital Nacional Dos de Mayo, Lima. Perú
3Universidad del Valle, Cali, Valle del Cauca. Colombia
Year:
Season: Sep-Oct
Volumen: 93
Number: 5
Pages: 686-695
Country: Brasil
Language: Inglés
Document type: Artículo
Approach: Experimental, aplicado
English abstract There is a lack of evidence to support acyclovir administration in pityriasis rosea. Objective: To determine the efficacy of acyclovir in patients with typical pityriasis rosea. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis of experimental studies was performed in MEDLINE, SCOPUS, EMBASE and others, from January 1990 to October 2016 on acyclovir for pityriasis rosea. Random effect model was used to find the pooled Risk Ratio. Outcomes, evaluated between weeks 1 to 8, were regression of lesions, cessation of lesions, decrease of symptoms and duration of disease. Comparisons were acyclovir vs. placebo; acyclovir vs. symptomatic treatment; acyclovir vs. antibiotic; acyclovir vs. observation and combined therapy (acyclovir plus symptomatic treatment) vs. symptomatic treatment alone. Results: Seven papers were analyzed with 324 participants, of which 159 received acyclovir and 165 were controls. Acyclovir was superior to placebo for complete regression of lesions at week 1 (Risk Ratio 5.72, CI95% 2.36-13.88). However, combined therapy was not superior to symptomatic treatment at week 4 (Risk Ratio 1.46, CI95% 0.93-2.29). Individual studies showed the superiority of acyclovir for the control of symptoms and pruritus. Study limitations: We faced differences designs of trials and inconsistency between reports. Conclusion: Symptomatic treatment is a reasonable option for pityriasis rosea, and the addition of acyclovir is justified for the control of symptoms and pruritus
Disciplines: Medicina
Keyword: Dermatología,
Farmacología,
Pitiriasis rosada,
Prurito,
Histamina,
Antagonistas,
Aciclovir
Keyword: Dermatology,
Pharmacology,
Pityriasis rosea,
Pruritus,
Histamine,
Antagonists,
Acyclovir
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