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Proactive disease management with 0·03% tacrolimus ointment for children with atopic dermatitis: results of a randomized, multicentre, comparative study
Author(s) -
Thaçi D.,
Reitamo S.,
Gonzalez Ensenat M.A.,
Moss C.,
Boccaletti V.,
Cainelli T.,
Van Der Valk P.,
Buckova H.,
Sebastian M.,
Schuttelaar M.L.,
Ruzicka T.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2133.2008.08813.x
Subject(s) - tacrolimus , atopic dermatitis , medicine , randomized controlled trial , dermatology , atopy , pediatrics , allergy , surgery , transplantation , immunology
Summary Background Long‐term treatment for atopic dermatitis (AD) using low‐dose, intermittent, topical anti‐inflammatory agents may control acute disease and prevent exacerbations. Objectives This 12‐month, European, multicentre, randomized study investigated if proactive, twice‐weekly application of 0·03% tacrolimus ointment can keep AD in remission and reduce the incidence of disease exacerbation (DE) in children. Patients and methods During the initial open‐label period, 267 children with AD applied 0·03% tacrolimus ointment twice daily for up to 6 weeks to all affected areas. When an Investigator Global Assessment (IGA) score of ≤ 2 was achieved, the patient entered the disease control period (DCP) and was randomized to receive tacrolimus ( n = 125) or vehicle ointment ( n = 125) twice weekly for 12 months. Exacerbations were treated with 0·03% tacrolimus ointment twice daily until an IGA ≤ 2 was regained, then randomized treatment was restarted. Results The outcome measure was the number of DEs during the DCP that required substantial therapeutic intervention. Proactive application of 0·03% tacrolimus ointment significantly reduced the number of DEs during the DCP that required substantial therapeutic intervention (median difference: 1·0; P < 0·001; Wilcoxon rank‐sum test), the percentage of DE treatment days (median difference: 6·2; P < 0·001; Wilcoxon rank‐sum test), and increased the time to first DE requiring intervention (median: 173 vs. 38 days; P < 0·001; stratified log‐rank test). Differences in quality of life scores were not significant between groups. The adverse event profile was similar for both treatment approaches. Conclusions Twice‐weekly proactive application of 0·03% tacrolimus ointment over 12 months was effective for most paediatric study patients in preventing, delaying and reducing the occurrence of AD exacerbations.