Efficacy of Pimecrolimus 1% Cream in Various Clinical Forms of Atopic Dermatitis

Background and Design: Atopic dermatitis shows some different clinical appearances. The main aim of this experimental study is to compare the efficacy of pimecrolimus among these clinical subgoups of atopic dermatitis. Material and Method: A total of 70 patients, 50 male and 20 female, aged between 2-38 years were included in the study. Twenty-two patients (%31.4) were pediatric (2-10 years). Patients were investigated in regard to high levels of total IgE, airway allergy, positive skin prick test and triggering allergens. Patients were classified as: mixed, pure intrinsic and pure extrinsic according to Wuthrich classification. Pimecrolimus 1% cream was applied to the patients twice daily for 6 weeks and patients were evaluated with SCORAD index before and after treatment. Results: FAs a result, 58.6% of the patients (n=41) had a successful therapy with pimecrolimus while 4.3% (n=3) had partially successful. Thirty-five patients achieved full remission. The difference between the SCORADs before and after the treatment was found to be statistically significant (p<0.0001). Conclusion: In this study, efficacy of pimecrolimus was compared to mixed, pure intrinsic and pure extrinsic types of atopic dermatitis. Although pimecrolimus was more effective in the pure intrinsic type, it was not statistically significant (p=0,75). There was also an insignificant difference between the mild and moderate atopic dermatitis for the efficacy of pimecrolimus (p=0,107). In addition, it is concluded in this study that the optimum treatment period with pimecrolimus should be approximately 4 weeks for children and 6 weeks for adults and adolescents. (Turkderm 2010; 44: 83-7)