An Over-the-Counter Moisturizer Is as Clinically Effective as, and More Cost-Effective Than, Prescription Barrier Creams in the Treatment of Children With Mild-to-Moderate Atopic Dermatitis: A Randomized, Controlled Trial

作者：Miller Drew W; Koch Sarah B; Yentzer Brad A; Clark Adele R; O'Neill Jenna; Fountain Julie; Weber Teresa M; Fleischer Alan B Jr^*

来源：Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011, 10(5): 531-537.

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a prevalent skin disorder with significant cost of treatment. Several prescription device moisturizers have been approved by the FDA to treat AD but are significantly more expensive than well-crafted over-the-counter (OTC) moisturizers. No studies have been performed to compare both the clinical efficacy and cost-efficacy of these prescription devices to OTC moisturizers.
Purpose: The purpose of this study is to compare the clinical efficacy and cost-efficacy of a glycyrrhetinic acid-containing barrier repair cream (BRC-Gly, Atopiclair (R)), a ceramide-dominant barrier repair cream (BRC-Cer, EpiCeram (R)) and an OTC petroleum-based skin protectant moisturizer (OTC-Pet, Aquaphor Healing Ointment (R)) as monotherapy for mild-to-moderate AD in children.
Methods: Thirty-nine patients, age 2-17 years, with mild-to-moderate AD were randomized 1:1:1 to receive one of three treatments BRC-Gly, BRC-Cer or OTC-Pet with instructions to apply the treatment three times daily for three weeks. Disease severity and improvement was assessed at baseline and on days 7 and 21.
Results: No statistically significant difference for any efficacy assessment was found between the three groups at each time point. The OTC-Pet was found to be at least 47 times more cost-effective than BRC-Gly or BRC-Cer.
Limitations: The relatively small sample size of 39 subjects was not sufficient to establish OTC-Pet as superior treatment in AD.
Conclusions: OTC-Pet is as effective in treating mild-to-moderate AD as both BRC-Gly and BRC-Cer and is at least 47 times more cost-effective.

• 出版日期2011-5