Pimecrolimus and narrowband UVB as monotherapy or combination therapy in children and adolescents with atopic dermatitis.
Topical pimecrolimus and narrowband ultraviolet B (UVB) are both known to be effective in treating atopic dermatitis. We compared the clinical efficacy of monotherapy with either twice daily topical 1% pimecrolimus cream or twice weekly narrowband UVB, and combination therapy in 26 children and adolescents with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis in a half-side manner for 6 weeks. Twenty-four patients completed the study. Monotherapy and combination therapy notably reduced the scores of the Eczema Area and Severity Index ( p = 0.002) and the severity of pruritus ( p < or = 0.004). There was no significant difference in therapeutic efficacy among the treatment regimens at week 6. In conclusion, because of the lack of short-term additive therapeutic efficacy, concomitant use of pimecrolimus and narrowband UVB is inadvisable in treating moderate to severe atopic dermatitis in children and adolescents.
Department of Dermatology, Veterans General Hospital-Kaohsiung, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. tytzung@isca.vghks.gov.tw
Tien-Yi
TY
Tzung
Chyi-Bin
CB
Lin
Ya-Hui
YH
Chen
Chia-Yi
CY
Yang
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000628:therapy*; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009824:Ointments; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011537:Pruritus / Q000628:therapy; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy
D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D009824:Ointments; C117268:pimecrolimus; D016559:Tacrolimus