title: A pilot study examining the role of zileuton in atopic dermatitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Atopic dermatitis is a common chronic inflammatory skin condition. Current therapies are often insufficient to control the degree of inflammation and pruritus seen in this disease.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the efficacy of zileuton in treating atopic dermatitis by measuring both subjective and objective outcome parameters.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was an open-label pilot study using zileuton to treat atopic dermatitis. Following a 1-week run-in period off all corticosteroids and antihistamines, six adult patients received 6 weeks of zileuton 600 mg po QID. Subjects were not allowed to use their usual atopic dermatitis medications during the study. At baseline, and at 2, 4, and 6 weeks into the zileuton course, patients were asked to report on their disease dissatisfaction and their pruritus. Objective skin scoring was also performed by an examiner at these visits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Disease dissatisfaction score decreased from a mean of 8 (out of a possible 10) to 4.4 over the 6-week period (P = .03). Pruritus scores showed a trend toward improvement during the study, decreasing from a mean of 7.3 to 4.3 (out of a possible 10, P = .06). Objective skin erythema scores decreased from a baseline mean of 24 (out of a possible 60) to 14 following zileuton treatment (P = .03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this pilot study, zileuton showed efficacy in significantly improving the symptoms and objective skin findings seen in atopic dermatitis. The encouraging results seen in this trial should encourage larger, placebo-controlled studies looking at this novel approach toward treating this condition.
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergy and Immunology, Scripps Clinic, La Jolla, California 92037, USA.
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Woodmansee
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Simon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006918:Hydroxyurea / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020024:Leukotriene Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010865:Pilot Projects
chemical_list: D020024:Leukotriene Antagonists; C063449:zileuton; D006918:Hydroxyurea