Systemic therapy of atopic dermatitis.
Atopic dermatitis is a chronic, relapsing, inflammatory skin disease. Topical therapy is the mainstay, but patients with widespread moderate to severe atopic dermatitis may require systemic therapy. Immunosuppressants, immune response modifiers, antihistamines and antibiotics are among the classes of systemic medications frequently used to treat extensive atopic dermatitis; the indications and scientific support for the use of these and other less commonly used medications will be reviewed in this article.
Sidbury
R
R
Division of Dermatology, Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA.
Hanifin
J M
JM
D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015289:Leukotrienes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D009294:Narcotics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use
D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D015289:Leukotrienes; D009294:Narcotics; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D010936:Plant Extracts; D007371:Interferon-gamma