title: Low systemic exposure in infants with atopic dermatitis in a 1-year pharmacokinetic study with pimecrolimus cream 1%*.
abstract: Systemic drug exposure following the application of topical agents is a very important safety consideration, particularly in infants, who have a significantly higher ratio of body surface area to body mass than older children and adults. Here, we report on drug exposure in five infants aged 5.7-11.9 months at baseline, with extensive, moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD). Patients were treated bid for 1 year, as needed, with pimecrolimus cream 1% in an open-label, non-controlled study. No indication of drug accumulation was found; pimecrolimus blood concentrations were consistently low, ranging from below the limit of quantitation (0.1 ng/ml) to 1.94 ng/ml. Treatment over this prolonged period was well tolerated, with no evidence of any treatment-related adverse events. The results of this 1-year study indicate that long-term management of AD with pimecrolimus cream 1% is associated with consistently very low systemic absorption, even in the youngest patients with extensive disease.
authors.affiliation: Division of Child Health, University of Leicester, UK.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lakhanpaul
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schneider
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; C117268:pimecrolimus; D016559:Tacrolimus