title: Short-term efficacy of tacrolimus ointment and impact on quality of life.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Topical calcineurin inhibitor (TCI) was reported to be an effective therapeutic agent for patients with atopic dermatitis (AD), for not only improving clinical findings but also for reducing pruritus. Recently in Japan tacrolimus ointment (0.03%) as a TCI was approved for use in children aged > or =2 years. There have been no reports, however, on the impact of TCI on quality of life (QOL) in pediatric AD in Japan. The purpose of the present study was therefore to evaluate the efficacy of tacrolimus ointment (0.03%) in the short-term and the impact on patient QOL.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 30 pediatric patients with AD, whose skin problems were not sufficiently controlled by mid-high potency topical glucocorticosteroids, were enrolled. Efficacy was assessed on score of cutaneous findings, pruritus, sleeping disorder, and QOL.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three patients discontinued because of skin burning (n = 1), generalized herpes infection (n = 1), and feeling of lack of efficacy (n = 1), leaving a final total of 27 patients who were evaluated. Significant improvements in clinical findings, pruritus, and sleeplessness were observed within 1 week of treatment and consequently each QOL category was also improved. These improvements continued for the duration of the study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tacrolimus ointment therapy is rapidly effective for not only clinical symptoms (cutaneous findings, pruritus and sleeplessness) but also in QOL of AD pediatric patients aged > or =2 years.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Aichi 470-1192, Japan. ykondo@fujita-hu.ac.jp
authors.forename: Yasuto
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kondo
authors.forename: Yoichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakajima
authors.forename: Ryo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Komatsubara
authors.forename: Makiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Noriko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hirata
authors.forename: Haruko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Matuyama
authors.forename: Michiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kakami
authors.forename: Ikuya
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tsuge
authors.forename: Yukihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ohya
authors.forename: Atsuo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Urisu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D009824:Ointments; D011788:Quality of Life; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D009824:Ointments; D016559:Tacrolimus