Acar B, Karabulut H, Sahin Y, Babademez M A, Karadag A S, Karasen R M
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Kecioren Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
J Laryngol Otol. 2010 Feb;124(2):147-51. doi: 10.1017/S0022215109991459. Epub 2009 Nov 19.
We aimed to compare the efficacy of topical pimecrolimus versus hydrocortisone in treating external auditory canal pruritus, using the Modified Itch Severity Scale as an assessment tool.
We included in the study 40 patients with isolated itching of the external auditory canal who had not received any benefit from previous topical and systemic treatments. Topical 1 per cent pimecrolimus or topical hydrocortisone was applied to each patient's external auditory canal for three months. A Modified Itch Severity Scale was developed and used to assess treatment response.
Compared with itching scores on initial assessment, the scores of patients receiving topical pimecrolimus had decreased by 52.3 per cent by the third week of treatment and by 77.6 per cent by the third month, whereas the scores of patients receiving topical hydrocortisone had decreased by 34.4 per cent by the third week and by 64.2 per cent by the third month.
Topical pimecrolimus appears to be as effective as topical hydrocortisone in relieving external auditory canal pruritus. We used a novel scoring system, the Modified Itch Severity Scale, to evaluate external auditory canal pruritus; this is the first self-reporting questionnaire for the quantification of external auditory canal pruritus severity. Further studies are needed to validate this scoring system.
我们旨在使用改良瘙痒严重程度量表作为评估工具，比较外用吡美莫司与氢化可的松治疗外耳道瘙痒的疗效。
我们纳入了40例单纯外耳道瘙痒患者，这些患者之前接受的局部和全身治疗均未取得任何效果。将1%的外用吡美莫司或外用氢化可的松应用于每位患者的外耳道，持续三个月。开发并使用改良瘙痒严重程度量表来评估治疗反应。
与初始评估时的瘙痒评分相比，接受外用吡美莫司治疗的患者在治疗第三周时评分下降了52.3%，在第三个月时下降了77.6%，而接受外用氢化可的松治疗的患者在第三周时评分下降了34.4%，在第三个月时下降了64.2%。
外用吡美莫司在缓解外耳道瘙痒方面似乎与外用氢化可的松同样有效。我们使用了一种新颖的评分系统——改良瘙痒严重程度量表来评估外耳道瘙痒；这是首个用于量化外耳道瘙痒严重程度的自我报告问卷。需要进一步研究来验证该评分系统。
