Different courses of topical tacrolimus 0.1％ ointment for facial corticosteroid-dependent dermatitis: a clinical observation / 中华皮肤科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of different courses of topical tacrolimus 0.1％ ointment in facial corticosteroid-dependent dermatitis and to observe the rebound in patients after treatment with these regimens.Methods A total of 104 patients with facial corticosteroid-dependent dermatitis were randomly divided into 3 groups to be treated with topical tacrolimus 0.1％ ointment twice daily for 4,8 and 16 weeks respectively.The patients were followed up every 2 weeks within the early 4 weeks of treatment and every 4 weeks thereafter.The rebound phenomena was observed in patients on week 4 after the withdrawal of tacrolimus.Results Finally,90 patients completed this trial,including 32 patients in the 4-week group,29 patients in the 8-week group and 29 patients in the 16-week group.No significant differences were observed between the 4-,8- and 16-week groups in the total reponse rate (75.00％,82.76％,86.21％,respectively,x2 =1.35,P ＞ 0.05).The rebound rate in the 16-week group significantly differed from that in the 4- and 8-week group (20.69％ vs.46.88％ and 41.38％,both P＜ 0.05),while no statistical difference was noted between the 4- and 8-week groups.Local burning and itching were reported in 31.73％ of these patients,and all of these irritant reactions occurred within the first week of treatment.Conclusions Topical tacrolimus 0.1％ ointment is safe and effective for the treatment of facial corticosteroid-dependent dermatitis.The total response rate does not increase with the extended treatment course,and 4 weeks of treatment is enough for the marked and stable improvement of facial corticosteroid-dependent dermatitis,but the rebound rate is likely to be reduced by extended treatment course.