title: A randomized, open-label, multicenter trial of topical tacrolimus for the treatment of pruritis in patients with atopic dermatitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pruritis caused by atopic dermatitis (AD) is not always well controlled by topical corticosteroid therapy, but use of tacrolimus often helps to soothe such intractable pruritis in clinical settings.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the anti-pruritic efficacy of topical tacrolimus in treating AD in induction and maintenance therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prior to the study, patients were randomly allocated into two groups, induction therapy followed by tacrolimus monotherapy maintenance, and induction therapy followed by emollient-only maintenance. In the induction therapy, the patients were allowed to use topical tacrolimus and emollients in addition to a low dose (<10 g/week) of topical steroids. Patients showing relief from pruritis were allowed to proceed to maintenance therapy. Recurrence of pruritis in maintenance therapy was examined as a major endpoint.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two-thirds of patients (44/68; 64.7%) showed relief from pruritis after induction therapy. Pruritis recurred in 23.8% (5/21) of the tacrolimus monotherapy group and in 100% (21/21) of the emollient group during maintenance period, a difference that was statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Use of topical tacrolimus is effective in controlling pruritis of AD compared to emollient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan. takeuchs@dermatol.med.kyushu-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takeuchi
authors.forename: Hidehisa
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saeki
authors.forename: Shoji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tokunaga
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sugaya
authors.forename: Hanako
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ohmatsu
authors.forename: Yuichiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tsunemi
authors.forename: Hideshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Torii
authors.forename: Koichiro
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authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Tamihiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawakami
authors.forename: Yoshinao
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authors.lastname: Soma
authors.forename: Eiichi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gyotoku
authors.forename: Michihiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hide
authors.forename: Rikako
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: Yukihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ohya
authors.forename: Makiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kido
authors.forename: Masutaka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Furue