title: Efficacy and safety of tacrolimus ointment 0.03% treatment in a 1-month-old "red baby": a case report.
abstract: Several trials have indicated that topical tacrolimus is safe and effective for several immunologic-based skin disorders. We report a child <2 months old, who was admitted to our pediatric department because of generalized erythroderma. We started tacrolimus ointment 0.03% therapy by applying the ointment to the skin once daily, on a limited surface of 10 cm(2), changing the skin areas only after the disappearance of inflammation. After only one application we observed a marked improvement of the treated area and after another application the localized erythroderma disappeared. We changed the site of application and continued this treatment regime for 4 weeks. After 2 weeks we reduced treatment application once every other day and after an additional 2 weeks we discontinued therapy because of complete resolution of erythroderma. No adverse clinical effect was recorded and tolerance to the treatment was good. We conclude that 0.03% tacrolimus ointment is efficacious and safe even in an infant <2 months of age.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Catania, Catania, Italy. leonardi@unict.it
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Leonardi
authors.forename: Novella
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rotolo
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marchese
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: La Rosa
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D003873:Dermatitis, Exfoliative / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009824:Ointments; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D009824:Ointments; D016559:Tacrolimus