title: Percutaneous absorption of pimecrolimus is not increased in patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis when pimecrolimus cream 1% is applied under occlusion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the systemic exposure of pimecrolimus cream 1% applied under occlusion in atopic dermatitis (AD) patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A noncomparative, open-label study conducted in 3 groups of moderate to severe AD patients: A (adults, n = 9), B (adolescents, n = 4) and C (children, n = 6). Pimecrolimus cream 1% was applied twice daily for 8.5 days with overnight occlusion in patients with investigator's global assessment scores of ≥3 and AD involving at least 30% of their body surface area. Pimecrolimus blood concentrations were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The highest pimecrolimus blood concentrations observed in adults, adolescents and children were 1.84, 0.55 and 1.29 ng/ml, respectively. Pimecrolimus blood concentrations and affected body surface area showed no apparent correlation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  No measurable differences were found in pimecrolimus blood concentrations, efficacy and safety profile when pimecrolimus cream 1% was applied under occlusion versus application without occlusion. These findings reflect the high lipophilic properties of pimecrolimus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Venereology, J.-W. Goethe University School of Medicine, Frankfurt, Germany. thaci@em.uni-frankfurt.de
authors.forename: Diamant
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Thaçi
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kaufmann
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bieber
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hanfland
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hauffe
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Koehne-Voss
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Waldmeier
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D008297:Male; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012869:Skin Absorption; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; C117268:pimecrolimus; D016559:Tacrolimus