Comparative efficacy of topical mometasone furoate 0.1% cream vs topical tacrolimus 0.03% ointment in the treatment of atopic dermatitis

ABSTRACT

To compare the efficacy of mometasone furoate and tacrolimus in the treatment of atopic dermatitis. Sixty patients of atopic dermatitis were treated with mometasone furoate 0.1% [n=30] and tacrolimus 0.03% [n=30]. Both treatments were applied twice daily for 12 weeks. Patients were followed up monthly. The disease severity assessed by SCORAD index. A 4-point scale was used to measure the level of response to treatment. Before treatment the respective mean SCORAD was 30.57 +/- 13.62 and 30.90 +/- 17.17 in group A and B and at the end of treatment decreased to 11.87 +/- 12.04 and 11.20 +/- 13.85, respectively [p>0.05]. Percent reduction of severity from baseline to final follow-up was 69.20 +/- 23.41 in group A and 74.77 +/- 23.30 in group B [p=0.360]. At final follow-up 56.7% of group A and 63.3% of group B achieved excellent response, 13.3% of group A and 16.7% of group B achieved good response. We conclude that both treatments, mometasone furoate and tacrolimus, are effective in the treatment of atopic dermatitis