title: Adult patients with moderate atopic dermatitis: tacrolimus ointment versus pimecrolimus cream.
abstract: The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of tacrolimus ointment and pimecrolimus cream in adults with moderate atopic dermatitis (AD). A randomized, investigator-blinded, 6-week, multicenter study enrolled patients (> or =16 years) with mild to very severe AD. Patients with moderate AD at baseline were analyzed. At study completion, tacrolimus ointment-treated patients had significantly greater improvement in Eczema Area Severity Index score compared with pimecrolimus cream-treated patients (59% versus. 43% reduction, respectively; P=.01). Significantly more tacrolimus ointment-treated patients than pimecrolimus cream-treated patients improved by 1 or more grades on the Investigators' Global Atopic Dermatitis Assessment (P<.02). A total of 5 pimecrolimus cream-treated patients discontinued the study early due to lack of efficacy compared with no tacrolimus ointment-treated patients (P=.02). Overall, reported adverse events occurred at a similar frequency for both treatment groups. Tacrolimus ointment is more effective than pimecrolimus cream in the management of adults with moderate AD.
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Treatment and Research Center and Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas,TX, USA. DrA@DermCenter.us
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Abramovits
authors.forename: Alan B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Fleischer
authors.forename: Eileen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jaracz
authors.forename: Debra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Breneman
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000328:Adult; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009824:Ointments; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D009824:Ointments; C117268:pimecrolimus; D016559:Tacrolimus