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

NCT07420894 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: MMDC2
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 148
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief 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.

Conditions

Dermatophytosis; Trichophyton Infection; Resistant Dermatophyte Infection

Keywords

Itraconazole; Isotretinoin; Chronic recurrent dermatophytosis; Recalcitrant tinea infection; Trichophyton rubrum

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Clinical cure

  Proportion of participants with complete resolution of clinical signs and symptoms of dermatophytosis, defined as absence of active erythema, scaling, pruritus, and advancing lesion margin on clinical examination using a structured assessment proforma.

  Up to 8 weeks

• Mycological cure

  Proportion of participants with negative potassium hydroxide microscopy from the previously involved site at the end of treatment. Where culture is performed at follow-up, mycological cure additionally requires negative fungal culture.

  up to 8 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Time to symptom resolution

  Up to 8 weeks

• Relapse (recurrence) within follow-up

  Up to 8 weeks

Study Arms (2)

Group A (Itraconazole + Isotretinoin)

EXPERIMENTAL

Received oral itraconazole plus low dose oral isotretinoin for the predefined treatment duration, with no additional systemic antifungal or systemic retinoid permitted during the treatment period.

Drug: Itraconazole + Isotretinoin

Group B (Itraconazole Monotherapy)

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Received oral itraconazole alone for the predefined treatment duration, with no additional systemic antifungal or systemic retinoid permitted during the treatment period.

Drug: Itraconazole (ITZ)

Interventions

Itraconazole + Isotretinoin DRUG

Oral itraconazole administered at the protocol-specified dose (example: 200 mg/day in divided doses) for the protocol-specified duration (example: 4-6 weeks). Low dose oral isotretinoin administered at the protocol-specified dose (example: 10-20 mg/day or weight-based low dose) for the protocol-specified duration (example: 4-6 weeks).

Group A (Itraconazole + Isotretinoin)

Itraconazole (ITZ) DRUG

Oral itraconazole administered at the protocol-specified dose (example: 200 mg/day in divided doses) for the protocol-specified duration (example: 4-6 weeks).

Group B (Itraconazole Monotherapy)

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• 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

You may not qualify if:

• 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

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Multan Medical And Dental College: lead

Study Sites (1)

Multan Medical and Dental College

Multan, Punjab Province, 60000, Pakistan

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Tinea; Trichophyton infection

Interventions

Itraconazole; Isotretinoin

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Dermatomycoses; Mycoses; Bacterial Infections and Mycoses; Infections; Skin Diseases, Infectious; Skin Diseases; Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Triazoles; Azoles; Heterocyclic Compounds, 1-Ring; Heterocyclic Compounds; Piperazines; Retinoids; Carotenoids; Polyenes; Alkenes; Hydrocarbons, Acyclic; Hydrocarbons; Organic Chemicals; Cyclohexenes; Cyclohexanes; Cycloparaffins; Hydrocarbons, Alicyclic; Hydrocarbons, Cyclic; Terpenes; Pigments, Biological; Biological Factors

Study Officials

• Saba Amin

  Multan Medical And Dental College

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 12, 2026
• First Posted: February 19, 2026
• Study Start: January 29, 2025
• Primary Completion: July 28, 2025
• Study Completion: July 28, 2025
• Last Updated: February 19, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-02

Locations

PA (1)