title: Emollients improve treatment results with topical corticosteroids in childhood atopic dermatitis: a randomized comparative study.
abstract: The aim of the study was to investigate whether adding emollients to the standard topical corticosteroid therapy influences the outcome of children with atopic dermatitis. Fifty-two children aged between 2 and 12 yr were divided randomly in two subgroups consisting of 26 children each. Both groups applied 0.1% methylprednisolone aceponate cream on lesional atopic skin once daily for 2 wk and were observed for another 4 wk after treatment discontinuation. Group B used additionally emollients for the whole study period. Patients were evaluated at days 0 (baseline), 7, 14 (end of therapy), 28 and 42 (follow-up). Both groups demonstrated significant improvement of disease severity according to EASI (Eczema Area and Severity Index) scale (group A: 6.8 +/- 3.59 before and 0.87 +/- 1.25 after therapy, p < 0.001; group B: 9.6 +/- 8.39 before and 1.11 +/- 2.37 after therapy, p < 0.001). Xerosis improved significantly better in group B compared to group A, both clinically (group A: 1.38 +/- 0.57 scores before and 1.5 +/- 0.58 scores after therapy, p = 0.11; group B: 1.62 +/- 0.64 scores before and 0.12 +/- 0.33 scores after therapy, p < 0.001), and by corneometry assessment (group A: 41.7 +/- 9.1 units before and 51.3 +/- 11.3 units after therapy, p < 0.001; group B: 38.9 +/- 12.9 units before and 58.2 +/- 13.5 units after therapy, p < 0.001). A trend towards faster resolving of pruritus in group B (group A: 5.44 +/- 2.6 scores before and 3.22 +/- 2.31 scores after therapy, p = 0.001; group B: 5.87 +/- 2.79 scores before and 2.24 +/- 1.59 scores after therapy, p < 0.001) was also observed. In group B, the improvement was maintained for couple of weeks after treatment discontinuation, while in group A recurrence of the disease was noted (EASI at day 42 in group A vs. group B: 5.29 +/- 5.6 vs. 1.25 +/- 1.4, p = 0.01). Similar results were also observed for xerosis (p < 0.001) and pruritus (p = 0.002). Concomitant usage of emollients significantly improves xerosis and pruritus during corticosteroid treatment of atopic dermatitis and enables to maintain clinical improvement after therapy discontinuation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Jolanta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Szczepanowska
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reich
authors.forename: Jacek C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Szepietowski
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D004643:Emollients / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011537:Pruritus / Q000473:pathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D004643:Emollients