BACKGROUND: The aim of the controlled double-blind trial was to demonstrate the superiority of a topical combination product over its single constituents. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 278 patients with atopic dermatitis were randomized into four groups: 79 patients were treated with a topical combination of levomenol and heparin (A), 80 patients with levomenol alone (B), 78 patients with heparin alone (C) and 41 patients with the cream base with no active substances (D). The medication was applied twice daily for 8weeks. Efficacy criteria included the severity of pruritus (visual analogue scale, VAS) and the SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) index as well as the overall assessment of efficacy and tolerance by both physician and patient. RESULTS: The improvement of pruritus and SCORAD values in Group A was significantly higher compared with Groups B-D (ancova, P<7×10(-8) ). The improvement of pruritus in Group A approximately corresponded to the cumulative effect of the two single active substances, with mean improvements of itching of -41.3, -13.3, -21.3 and +0.6mm VAS in Groups A-D, respectively (95% CI 7.1-13.5, 2.9-9.2 and 10.4-18.3mm for the comparisons A vs. B, A vs. C and A vs. D). CONCLUSION: The combination of levomenol and heparin proved to be significantly more efficacious in the treatment of pruritus and inflamed skin than the preparations of the single components.

Department of Dermatovenereology 3rd Faculty of Medicine Charles University of Prague Prague Czech Republic

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