title: Clinical and cytological effects of pimecrolimus cream 1% after resolution of active atopic dermatitis lesions by topical corticosteroids: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Topical pimecrolimus may maintain remissions of atopic dermatitis (AD) by inhibiting subclinical inflammation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate clinical and cytological effects of pimecrolimus in topical corticosteroid-treated and resolved AD lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients (n=67) with resolved AD lesions were randomized to 3-week double-blind treatment with either pimecrolimus cream 1% or vehicle cream. Outcome measures were reduction in Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) and number of leukocytes in skin biopsies in all randomized patients who were evaluable at the end of study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The proportion of patients with a localized EASI<2 at the end of study was higher with pimecrolimus cream 1% than with vehicle cream (73.5 vs. 39.4%, respectively). There was a significant decrease in the number of infiltrating CD45+ cells in pimecrolimus cream 1% compared with placebo cream (-88.2 vs. 43.2 cells/mm(2), respectively, p=0.047) and a slight but nonsignificant reduction in the number of dermal dendritic cells, Langerhans cells, T cells and macrophages with pimecrolimus versus vehicle cream.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This was an exploratory study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Topical pimecrolimus was effective at maintaining betamethasone-17α-valerate-induced AD remission by inhibiting recurrences of the inflammatory infiltrate in the skin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Division of Immunology, Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. christine.bangert@meduniwien.ac.at
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bangert
authors.forename: Bruce E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Strober
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cork
authors.forename: Jean-Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Ortonne
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Luger
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bieber
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferguson
authors.forename: Rupert C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Ecker
authors.forename: Tamara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kopp
authors.forename: Sophia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Weise-Riccardi
authors.forename: Achim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guettner
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stingl
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001624:Betamethasone Valerate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004485:Eczema / Q000473:pathology; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012074:Remission Induction; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; C117268:pimecrolimus; D001624:Betamethasone Valerate; D016559:Tacrolimus