Topical pimecrolimus: a new horizon for vitiligo treatment?
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of pimecrolimus cream 1% in vitiligo and to evaluate the effects of age of the patients, age of onset and duration of disease on response rate.


METHODS
Twenty-three patients with vitiligo were enrolled in our study; 19 patients (seven male, 12 female) completed the 6-month study period. Patients were treated with topical pimecrolimus 1% cream once daily. The response was evaluated as excellent (76-100%), moderate (51-75%), mild (26-50%), minimal (1-25%), or no response.


RESULTS
The mean age of the 19 patients was 29.3+/-16.6 (range 7-62 years) and the mean duration of vitiligo was 68.4+/-81.3 months. Three patients demonstrated an excellent response to the therapy. Four patients had moderate, six patients had mild and five patients had minimal responses; one patient had no response to the treatment. Side effects were noted as a burning and stinging sensation in only three patients. The correlations between response rate and duration of the disease (r = 0.02, p = 0.95), onset age (r = -0.17, p = 0.48), and age of the patients (r = -0.16, p = 0.53) were not significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Pimecrolimus has a mild therapeutic effect on vitiligo without significant side effects and can be an alternative therapy agent.
Sendur
Neslihan
N
Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Adnan Menderes University, Aydin, Turkey. neslihansendur@yahoo.com
Karaman
Göksun
G
Saniç
Nagehan
N
Savk
Ekin
E
D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004304:Dosage Forms; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D004304:Dosage Forms; C117268:pimecrolimus; D016559:Tacrolimus