title: Pimecrolimus 1% cream for cutaneous lupus erythematosus.
abstract: Topical treatment of cutaneous lupus erythematosus usually includes potent glucocorticosteroids. However, prolonged use causes adverse side effects including skin atrophy as the foremost concern. In contrast to glucocorticosteroids, the anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive macrolactam pimecrolimus has no atrophogenic potential. Affected areas of 11 patients with different forms of lupus erythematosus were treated with pimecrolimus 1% cream under semiocclusive conditions twice daily for 3 weeks. Skin involvement before and after therapy was assessed by means of a clinical score. In all patients, significant regression of skin lesions was observed after therapy (P <.001). This was an open and uncontrolled study on a limited number of cases. We suggest that pimecrolimus 1% cream could be an efficacious and safe treatment option for cutaneous lupus erythematosus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Allergology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kreuter
authors.forename: Thilo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gambichler
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Breuckmann
authors.forename: Frank M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Pawlak
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stücker
authors.forename: Armin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bader
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Altmeyer
authors.forename: Marcus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Freitag
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D005148:Facial Dermatoses / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008178:Lupus Erythematosus, Cutaneous / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008179:Lupus Erythematosus, Discoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; C117268:pimecrolimus; D016559:Tacrolimus