title: Efficacy and safety of tacrolimus ointment monotherapy in chinese children with atopic dermatitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the efficacy and patients' tolerance of topical tacrolimus ointment for the treatment of atopic dermatitis in Chinese children during hot and humid seasons.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tacrolimus ointment at a concentration of 0.03% was applied for up to 4 weeks. Patients were assessed at weekly intervals for adverse events and efficacy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-four patients completed the study. Twenty-seven percent of patients showed greater than 75% improvement according to the investigators' Global Evaluation of Clinical Response from Week 1 onward. The mean patients' assessment of treatment effects and Eczema Area Severity Index decreased by 60% after treatment for 4 weeks (p<0.001), and the mean score for patients' assessment of pruritus decreased by 41% at Week 4 (p<0.001). Pruritus and burning sensation were the two main adverse events reported.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The short-term monotherapy of childhood atopic dermatitis with tacrolimus ointment is well tolerated and effective during the hot and humid seasons in Hong Kong.
authors.affiliation: Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. hhlchan@hkucc.hku.hk
authors.forename: Chi Keung
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Yeung
authors.forename: Kwok Chiu
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Henry Hin Lee
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Chan
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D009824:Ointments; D011537:Pruritus / Q000139:chemically induced; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D009824:Ointments; D016559:Tacrolimus