Tacrolimus 0.1% ointment in nail psoriasis: a randomized controlled open-label study.
BACKGROUND
Despite recent advances in the treatment of psoriasis, the therapeutic options for nail psoriasis are very limited, particularly when this is the only manifestation of the disease.


OBJECTIVE
We performed a randomized controlled open-label study to assess the efficacy and safety of a topical treatment with tacrolimus 0.1% ointment in nail psoriasis.


METHODS
In each patient, tacrolimus 0.1% ointment was prescribed for application only on the affected nails of a randomly selected hand for 12 weeks, whereas nails of the other hand did not receive any treatment. Severity of nail psoriasis was evaluated using the Nail Psoriasis Severity Index (NAPSI) score.


RESULTS
We enrolled 21 consecutive psoriatic patients. At week 12, a statistically significant (P < 0.001) improvement was obtained in the treated hands with respect to the hands used as control (NAPSI score absolute change 13.0 and 3.0 respectively). Each of the enrolled patients concluded the period of treatment, but one patient was withdrawn from tacrolimus application after 9 weeks because of the appearance of acute paronychia.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study showed that tacrolimus 0.1% ointment may be an efficacious and safe therapeutic opportunity in the treatment of nail psoriasis. Our data should be confirmed by a double-blind study with a larger sample of patients.
Department of Dermatology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
C
C
De Simone
A
A
Maiorino
F
F
Tassone
M
M
D'Agostino
G
G
Caldarola
D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009260:Nail Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009824:Ointments; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D009824:Ointments; D016559:Tacrolimus