In a double-masked, randomized, parallel-group, comparative study of patients with moderate-to-severe seborrhoeic dermatitis of the scalp the efficacy of mometasone furoate solution 0.1% (MFS) once daily was compared with ketoconazole shampoo 2% (KS) used twice a week 1. A total of 54 patients (40 men and 14 women) were randomized to receive either MFS or KS for 4 consecutive weeks. Investigators used the same scale to rate symptoms at baseline and at follow-up visits at 2 and 4 weeks. In addition, patients and investigators rated efficacy according to the following scale: 1 = cleared, 2 = marked improvement (75% to 100% clearance), 3 = moderate improvement (50% to 75% improvement), 4 = slight improvement (< 50% clearance), 5 = no change, and 6 = exacerbation. A total of 37 patients (22 MFS, 15 KS) were cleared or markedly improved during the study. The results show that 10 patients (8 MFS, 2 KS) were cleared after 2 weeks and 22 patients (15 MFS, 7 KS) were cleared after 4 weeks of treatment. There were 7 cleared patients treated with MFS and 1 cleared patient treated with KS who discontinued treatment at day 14 due to 100% reduction of symptoms.
Comment: The quality of evidence is downgraded by sparse data and potential reporting bias (no thorough literature search was performed)
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