The treatment of tinea with topically applied leukotriene B4

Important roles of neutrophils as well as lymphocytes against invasive fungi has been suggested. Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) is a potent chemoattractant for neutrophils and its topical application to human skin has already been performed without serious side effects, forming intraepidermal neutrophil abscesses. Thus topical LTB4 therapy for tinea was attempted in a randomized, placebo-controlled study. LTB4 (100-900 ng depending on the area of each lesion) was applied to a whole lesion once a week until, as a rule, complete clearing was observed but maximum for 2 weeks (vesiculobullous type lesions), 5 weeks (patches with or without raised borders) or 7 weeks (macerated lesions between toes). As a result, 16 of 18 lesions treated with LTB4 were cleared either completely (13) or partially (3). In contrast, only 2 of 18 lesions treated with vehicle (50% ethanol) were cleared partially. Statistical analysis with chi 2 test revealed a significant efficacy of LTB4 over vehicle. Topical LTB4 will be used as a powerful antifungal regimen. LTB4 has not been used for infectious diseases before.