News:
Proactive treatment of atopic dermatitis
Long-term treatment for atopic dermatitis (AD) with intermittent topical anti - inflammatory agents for control and prevention of eczema has recently been documented in a multicentre, randomised study which investigated the proactive use of tacrolimus ointment when applied twice weekly. The study followed patients for 12 months being treated with tacrolimus 0.1% ointment (Protopic). The study demonstrated a significant effect of the treatment. The ointment prevented, delayed and reduced exacerbations of AD.
The study included 257 adult patients with AD who after a 6 week period of having applied the 0.1% tacrolimus ointment twice daily to affected areas, were divided into to groups, one group being treated with tacrolimus ointment twice weekly and the other group being treated with vehicle ointment. Both groups were treated for 12 months. Exacerbations of the eczema were treated with 2X daily application of 0.1% tacrolimus until visible lesions had cleared, thereafter the randomised treatment was restarted.
Measured by the number of exacerbations and the number of days with elevated treatment needed, the proactive treatment resulted in a significant effect. The adverse event profile was similar for both groups with signs of initial burning at application at the beginning of the treatment period.
The study concluded that adult patients with AD can be treated twice weekly as an effective disease control method. These results are especially interesting when compared to the common treatment method with topical steroids that includes the risk of side-effects in the form of skin atrophy and takyfylaksi.
An identical study on children with 0.03% tacrolimus ointment also showed a significant effect of the proactive treatment.
Sources:
Allergy. 2008 Jun;63(6):742-50.
Wollenberg A, Reitamo S, Girolomoni G et al.
Br J Dermatol. 2008 Sep 6
Thaçi D, Reitamo S, Gonzalez Ensenat MA et al.
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