Eficácia do uso de corticoides tópicos no tratamento da fimose primária em crianças e adolescentes

Introduction: Primary phimosis is a frequent problem in child health clinic with a prevalence of 11% at 3 years of age. Objective: The aim of this review is to evaluate the efficacy of topical corticosteroids (CCT) in reduction of foreskin retractile limitation in children and adolescents. Methods: The research was performed using the National Guideline Clearing House, Canadian Medical Association Practice Guidelines InfoBase, Cochrane Library, DARE, Bandolier, Evidence Based Medicine Online, Trip Database Online and PubMed databases using the terms “phimosis and steroids”. Clinical guidelines, meta-analyses, systematic reviews and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were searched in Portuguese, English and Spanish. The Levels of Evidence of Oxford Centre for Evidence Based Medicine were used. Results: A total of 148 articles were found, of which only six fulfilled the inclusion criteria: one guideline and five RCTs. Since 2013 the European Society of Pediatric Urology recommends the use of CCT in primary phimosis. The RCTs included a total of 624 children and adolescents aged between zero and 15 years and different CCTs and therapeutic approaches were tested. A significant improvement in prepuce retraction was observed with the use of CCT compared to placebo achieving a therapeutic efficacy of 66% and 90%. Conclusion: The studies used in this work support the use of CCTs in the treatment of primary phimosis in children and adolescents. However, we consider to be of added value the implementation of larger and methodologically homogeneous studies in order to clarify what is the best CCT therapeutic method.