Short-term growth in children with eczema during treatment with topical mometasone furoate and tacrolimus.
BACKGROUND
Treatment with topical glucocorticoids in children with atopic eczema may be associated with systemic adverse effects, such as suppression of growth.


OBJECTIVE
To asses if treatment with topical mometasone furoate 0.1% or topical tacrolimus 0.1% affects short-term growth in children with atopic eczema. Primary outcome measures were lower leg growth rates measured by knemometry.


METHODS
Twenty 5- to 12-year-old prepubertal children with atopic eczema were included in a randomised, investigator-blind crossover study with five periods: two treatment periods, a run in, a wash out and a run out. All periods were of 2-week duration. The subjects applied mometasone furoate ointment 0.1% once daily during one treatment period and tacrolimus ointment 0.1% twice daily during the other treatment period.


RESULTS
As compared to run in mean lower leg growth rate during mometasone furoate and tacrolimus treatment was reduced by 0.09 and 0.06 mm/week, respectively, (F = 1.12, p = 0.35). Consistently, no statistically significant effects on urine levels of eosinophil protein X and crossed-linked N-telopeptides were detected.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment with mometasone furoate or tacrolimus does not affect short-term growth in children with mild to moderate atopic eczema.
Gradman
Josefine
J
Children's Clinic Randers, Randers, Denmark. j.gradman@dadlnet.dk
Wolthers
Ole D
OD
D000287:Administration, Topical; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001846:Bone Development / Q000187:drug effects; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004485:Eczema / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007866:Leg / Q000254:growth & development*; D008297:Male; D000068656:Mometasone Furoate; D011244:Pregnadienediols / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D011244:Pregnadienediols; D000068656:Mometasone Furoate; D016559:Tacrolimus