Chronological evaluation of treatment effect for tinea unguium with efinaconazole: Possibility of an early estimation of treatment effects

The topical antifungal efinaconazole was applied to 27 nails (17 patients), and the treatment effects were monitored over a stipulated period (after 3, 6, and 12 months). Fourteen nails were observed for 18 months. Effects of the treatment were determined on the basis of the improvement rate of the turbidity ratio compared with that before treatment. After 12 months, five nails were cured and marked improvement was noted, whereas moderate and marked improvements were noted in 11 and six nails, respectively. The cured patients exhibited a significantly better improvement rate at 6 months (68.8%) than the other groups. Only 10.6% improvement was observed at the same point in time for the mild improvement group. Thus, in cases where the improvement rate after 6 months of treatment was 10% or less, it was judged that oral treatment should be considered. Furthermore, of the nails monitored for 18 months, those that exhibited further growth in improvement rates at 12 months was 51.6%, suggesting that an improvement rate of 50% at 12 months after starting treatment could be used as an indicator to determine switching to oral treatment.