A Randomized, Open-Label, Multicenter Trial of Topical Tacrolimus for the Treatment of Pruritis in Patients with Atopic Dermatitis
Annals of Dermatology
; : 144-150, 2012.
Article
in English
| WPRIM (Western Pacific)
| ID: wpr-214980
Responsible library:
WPRO
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Pruritis caused by atopic dermatitis (AD) is not always well controlled by topical corticosteroid therapy, but use of tacrolimus often helps to soothe such intractable pruritis in clinical settings.OBJECTIVE:
To determine the anti-pruritic efficacy of topical tacrolimus in treating AD in induction and maintenance therapy.METHODS:
Prior to the study, patients were randomly allocated into two groups, induction therapy followed by tacrolimus monotherapy maintenance, and induction therapy followed by emollient-only maintenance. In the induction therapy, the patients were allowed to use topical tacrolimus and emollients in addition to a low dose (<10 g/week) of topical steroids. Patients showing relief from pruritis were allowed to proceed to maintenance therapy. Recurrence of pruritis in maintenance therapy was examined as a major endpoint.RESULTS:
Two-thirds of patients (44/68; 64.7%) showed relief from pruritis after induction therapy. Pruritis recurred in 23.8% (5/21) of the tacrolimus monotherapy group and in 100% (21/21) of the emollient group during maintenance period, a difference that was statistically significant.CONCLUSION:
Use of topical tacrolimus is effective in controlling pruritis of AD compared to emollient.
Full text:
Available
Database:
WPRIM (Western Pacific)
Main subject:
Pruritus
/
Recurrence
/
Steroids
/
Tacrolimus
/
Dermatitis, Atopic
/
Emollients
Type of study:
Controlled clinical trial
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Annals of Dermatology
Year:
2012
Document type:
Article