title: Poor efficacy of oral tacrolimus in the treatment of severe generalized atopic eczema in adults: a small retrospective case series.
abstract: We report a small, but novel case series of four adults with severe generalized atopic eczema (AE) not responsive to several other immunomodulatory therapies, who were treated with oral tacrolimus (5 mg twice-daily). Three of the four patients failed therapy with systemic tacrolimus, despite two of these showing an initial clinical response; the fourth patient remains on tacrolimus monotherapy with good control of skin disease. Although oral tacrolimus was well-tolerated in this small group of adults, the clinical efficacy in this series for severe AE was poor. Tacrolimus may yet have a role in less severe disease, but larger prospective studies are required to qualify its place as a treatment option in AE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, Campbelltown Hospital             School of Medicine, University of Western Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Frederick J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Brad S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Frankum
authors.forename: Constance H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Katelaris
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016559:Tacrolimus