Reactivity to trichophytin antigen in patients with onychomycosis: effect of terbinafine.

Background: Many patients with chronic dermatophytosis and onychomycosis have depressed cell-mediated immunity (CMI) to trichophytin.

Objective: The fungicidal properties of oral terbinafine provide a unique opportunity to explore whether elimination of antigen could restore CMI response in these patients.

Methods: A double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluated the effect of terbinafine (250 mg/d for 12 weeks) on skin immunoreactivity to intradermal trichophytin antigen (TRIPA), mycologic status of the nail, and nail growth in patients with toenail onychomycosis.