Pimecrolimus 1% cream for pruritus in postmenopausal diabetic women with vulvar lichen simplex chronicus: a prospective non-controlled case series.
BACKGROUND
Pruritus vulvae may have a variety of causes, such as infections, dermatologic disorders or non-neoplastic/neoplastic vulvar diseases.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the efficacy and side effects of topical pimecrolimus 1% cream for pruritus vulvae.


METHODS
Twelve postmenopausal diabetic women with vulvar lichen simplex chronicus were enrolled in this trial. Each patient was treated with pimecrolimus 1% cream which was applied twice daily in a thin layer to the vulvae for 3 months. Clinical examination and recording of patients' symptoms using a scoring system was performed by the same physician before, after 4 weeks and after 3 months of therapy.


RESULTS
All of the patients completed the study. A substantial decrease in pruritus after treatment was reported by the patients at the 4th week (2.17+/-0.72, p<0.01) and 3rd month of treatment (0.42+/-0.92, p<0.001) when compared with the baseline score (3.75+/-0.45). Follow-up of the patients after 3 months of treatment showed that complete cure occurred in 10 patients (83.3%) and the pruritus was improved in two (16.7%) patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Pimecrolimus 1% cream seems to be an effective and safe treatment modality for pruritus in postmenopausal women with vulvar lichen simplex chronicus.
Kelekci
Handan Kiymet
HK
Department of Dermatology, Numune Education and Research Hospital, Adana, Turkey. drhandankelekci@yahoo.com
Uncu
Hikmet Gulsen
HG
Yilmaz
Bulent
B
Ozdemir
Orcun
O
Sut
Necdet
N
Kelekci
Sefa
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009450:Neurodermatitis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017698:Postmenopause; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011539:Pruritus Vulvae / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D003879:Dermatologic Agents; C117268:pimecrolimus; D016559:Tacrolimus