Ann Dermatol.  2018 Apr;30(2):173-178. 10.5021/ad.2018.30.2.173.

Topical Tacrolimus for the Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis with Truncal Lesion

• Ko HC
• Kim WI
• Cho SH
• Park YL
• Choi EH
• Son SW
• Lew BL
• Lee YW
• Seo YJ
• Kim GM
• Min JH
• Na CH
• Won CH
• Shin H
• Lee KH
• Roh JY
• Park YM
• Jang YH
• Yun SK
• Kim YC
• Park GH
• Park CW

• KMID: 2414678
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5021/ad.2018.30.2.173

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Topical tacrolimus is an effective anti-inflammatory therapy for acute and chronic states of atopic dermatitis (AD) in both adults and children. Topical tacrolimus has particular use at sensitive areas such as the face, anogenitals, and skin folds of neck and extremities. However, many AD patients also experience aggravated symptoms on trunk.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of topical tacrolimus for AD patients with truncal lesions.
METHODS
AD patients with truncal lesions who were aged ≥2 years were recruited from 20 centres in Korea. They received treatment with topical tacrolimus ointment twice daily during 4 weeks. The primary end point was change of the local eczema area and severity index (EASI) of the trunk from baseline to day 28. The secondary end points were changes in the patient global assessment (PGA) score and itch visual analogue scale (VAS) score of the trunk between baseline and day 28.
RESULTS
Two hundred and ninety-one patients were recruited, and 176 patients completed the full 4-week treatment course. By the end of the treatment, the mean local EASI of the trunk (2.2±4.71) was significantly decreased from that at baseline (4.71±4.03, p < 0.001). PGA (1.71±1.15) and itch VAS score of the trunk (2.61±2.19) on day 28 were also profoundly decreased compared with the baseline (2.96±1.07 and 5.15±2.47, respectively). No serious adverse events were observed during the study period.
CONCLUSION
Topical tacrolimus is an effective and safe therapy for truncal lesions in AD patients.

Keyword

Atopic dermatitis; Tacrolimus; Topical administration

MeSH Terms

Administration, Topical
Adult
Child
Dermatitis, Atopic*
Eczema
Extremities
Humans
Korea
Neck
Skin
Tacrolimus*
Tacrolimus

Figure

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  Fig. 1 The rate of improvements in local eczema area and severity index (EASI), patient global assessment (PGA) and itch visual analogue scale (VAS) score of trunk from baseline to week 4 (53.3%, 42.2%, 49.3%, respectively) was significantly higher than those of the non-truncal areas (49.7%, 39.4%, 44.3%, respectively). *The rate of improvements in each parameter in comparison with week 4 and baseline. †,‡Statistically significant difference between trunk and non-truncal areas, †p<0.001, ‡p<0.05 (Mann-Whitney test).

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