Efficacy and safety of tacrolimus ointment monotherapy in chinese children with atopic dermatitis.
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.
Yeung
Chi Keung
CK
Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. hhlchan@hkucc.hku.hk
Ma
Kwok Chiu
KC
Chan
Henry Hin Lee
HH
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
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D009824:Ointments; D016559:Tacrolimus