title: Topical pimecrolimus for skin disease other than atopic dermatitis.
abstract: Pimecrolimus is an ascomycin macrolactam. It is a specific calcineurin inhibitor that allows topical application. The highly lipophilic nature of this compound reduces the risk of systemic absorption through normal and inflammed skin. Pimecrolimus shows activity not only against T-cell activation, but also against mast cells and pruritus. Pimecrolimus 1% cream is approved for atopic dermatitis, and also has a great potential in other inflammatory skin diseases. Clinical trials have been performed in contact- and seborrhoeic dermatitis, genital lichen sclerosus, intertriginous psoriasis and cutaneous lupus erythematosus. In other diseases, the available data are limited to small case series, or individual cases of graft-versus-host disease or Netherton's disease. Although the use of calcineurin inhibitors in the treatment of vitiligo is promising, detailed studies with pimecrolimus and ultraviolet-irradiation are necessary and there is a need for prospective randomised, double-blind controlled trials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Academic Teaching Hospital Dresden-Friedrichstadt, Germany.
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Wollina
authors.forename: Gesina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hansel
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.forename: Mohamed Badawy
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Abdel-Naser
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D003879:Dermatologic Agents; C117268:pimecrolimus; D016559:Tacrolimus