title: Long-term treatment of atopic dermatitis with pimecrolimus cream 1% in infants does not interfere with the development of protective antibodies after vaccination.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We investigated whether treatment of atopic dermatitis with pimecrolimus cream 1% in infants affects the development of a normal antibody response to vaccinations.
  
  
  METHODS
  In all, 91 patients participated in a 1-year, open-label extension to a 1-year double-blind study: 76 used pimecrolimus twice daily at the first signs or symptoms of the disease until clearance for 2 years and 15 only in the second year. Serum concentrations of antibodies against tetanus, diphtheria, measles, and rubella were measured at months 18 and 24.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The seropositivity rates of 93.6% for tetanus, 88.6% for diphtheria, 88.5% for measles, and 84.4% for rubella were comparable with those reported in literature. Seropositivity was not significantly affected by the use of pimecrolimus at the time of vaccinations (+/- 28 days).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment of atopic dermatitis with pimecrolimus cream 1% in early childhood does not appear to interfere with the development of a normal immune response to vaccinations.
authors.affiliation: Probity Medical Research, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. kapapp@probitymedical.com
authors.forename: Kim A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Papp
authors.forename: Kristine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Breuer
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Meurer
authors.forename: Jean-Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Ortonne
authors.forename: Paul C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Potter
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: de Prost
authors.forename: Miles J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Davidson
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Barbier
authors.forename: Hans-Peter
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Goertz
authors.forename: Carle
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Paul
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects*; D003017:Clostridium tetani / Q000276:immunology; D003353:Corynebacterium diphtheriae / Q000276:immunology; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D004168:Diphtheria Toxoid / Q000276:immunology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008458:Measles Vaccine / Q000276:immunology; D008459:Measles virus / Q000276:immunology; D009824:Ointments; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012411:Rubella Vaccine / Q000276:immunology; D012412:Rubella virus / Q000276:immunology; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid / Q000276:immunology; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D004168:Diphtheria Toxoid; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D008458:Measles Vaccine; D009824:Ointments; D012411:Rubella Vaccine; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid; C117268:pimecrolimus; D016559:Tacrolimus