To print: Select File and then Print from your browser's menu --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Title: WCD: Tacrolimus Ointment Is an Effective Treatment for Psoriasis of the Face and Intertriginous Areas URL: http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/217EDA.htm Doctor's Guide July 9, 2002
By Jill Stein Special to DG News PARIS, FRANCE -- July 5, 2002 -- Tacrolimus 0.1 percent ointment is a safe and effective nonsteroidal alternative for patients with psoriasis on the face and/or intertriginous areas, according to researchers from the United States. Dr. Amy Krupnick, with the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, New York, presented the results here at the 20th World Congress of Dermatology (WCD). Tacrolimus ointment (Protopic) is a new topical immunomodulator that has recently been approved in the United States for the treatment of atopic dermatitis. Dr. Krupnick and colleagues conducted an open-label, single-arm trial of tacrolimus 0.1 percent ointment in 21 patients who had psoriasis on the face and/or intertriginous areas. All patients had moderate to severe disease for a minimum of six months. Patients applied the ointment twice daily to the lesions for eight weeks. Clinical evaluations were done at baseline and at days 8, 15, 29, 43, and 57. The effectiveness of tacrolimus 0.1 percent ointment was demonstrated by the physicians' assessment of individual signs and symptoms and global evaluation of change in psoriasis status compared to baseline. There was significant statistical improvement in erythema, infiltration, and desquamation from baseline to the end of treatment. In addition, complete clearance of psoriasis was seen as early as the first follow-up visit, which occurred on day 8. Approximately half of the patients had complete clearance at day 29. By day 43, almost 62 percent of patients had complete clearance, and by the end of treatment, 81 percent had clearance. Two patients experienced adverse events. One developed increased pruritus after the first two applications and the other experienced a sensation of warmth at the application site during the first few days of treatment. The adverse events were mild, self-limiting, and consistent with those reported in other studies, Dr. Krupnick said. Notably, no patient developed atrophy, striae, or telangiectasia during the trial. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 1999 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of P\S\L content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of P\S\L. P\S\L shall not be liable for any errors, omissions or delays in this content or any other content on its sites, newsletters or other publications, nor for any decisions or actions taken in reliance on such content. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This news story was printed from *Doctor's Guide to the Internet* located at http://www.docguide.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to News Story Page This site is maintained by webmaster@pslgroup.com Please contact us with any comments, problems or bugs. All contents Copyright (c) 1998 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved.