title: Long-term treatment with 0.1% tacrolimus ointment in adults with atopic dermatitis: results of a two-year, multicentre, non-comparative study.
abstract: Atopic dermatitis often requires long-term treatment. This European, multicentre, non-comparative, 24-month, follow-up study investigated the efficacy and safety of 0.1% tacrolimus ointment applied to adults with atopic dermatitis. Patients (n=672) applied a thin layer of 0.1% tacrolimus ointment twice daily for 3 weeks to all affected body areas. After 3 weeks, ointment was applied once daily. Clinical improvement became apparent after 2 weeks of treatment and 65.5% of patients had a rating of clearance, excellent or marked improvement by month 3. Skin burning (31.7%) was the most common causally-related adverse event, followed by pruritus (11.3%) folliculitis (6.4%), alcohol intolerance (5.7%), herpes simplex (5.7%), skin infection (4.6%), skin erythema (3.3%) and hyperaesthesia (2.4%). The most commonly reported infections were flu syndrome (12.9%), skin infection (9.8%), folliculitis (7.4%) and herpes simplex (7.0%). Long-term treatment up to 24 months with 0.1% tacrolimus ointment is safe and efficacious in adults with atopic dermatitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland. sakari.reitamo@hus.fi
authors.forename: Sakari
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Reitamo
authors.forename: Jean-Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Ortonne
authors.forename: Carsten
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sand
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bos
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cambazard
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bieber
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Grønhøj-Larsen
authors.forename: Malcolm
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rustin
authors.forename: Regina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fölster-Holst
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schuttelaar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007239:Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009824:Ointments; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D009824:Ointments; D016559:Tacrolimus