Use of Pimecrolimus Cream in Disorders Other than Atopic Dermatitis

Abstract

Background: Pimecrolimus is indicated for treatment of atopic dermatitis and has been evaluated in many other disorders.Objective: To review the efficacy of pimecrolimus in treatment of disorders other than atopic dermatitis.Methods: We performed a PubMed search of the English-language literature using the key word ''pimecrolimus.'' We reviewed articles reporting the use of pimecrolimus in disorders other than atopic dermatitis and classified them by the type of study used to evaluate efficacy.Results: Randomized, double-blind studies have shown that pimecrolimus is superior to vehicle in treatment of seborrheic dermatitis, hand dermatitis, and asteatotic eczema but have yielded conflicting results regarding intertriginous psoriasis and vitiligo.Open-label studies involving four or more patients have shown favorable results in many disorders, including contact dermatitis, rosacea, lichen sclerosus, and oral and genital lichen planus. Case reports have shown that topical pimecrolimus may be useful in cutaneous graft-versus-host disease, lichen striatus, cutaneous lichen planus, and many other disorders.Conclusions: Topical pimecrolimus appears to be an effective treatment for many disorders other than atopic dermatitis, especially seborrheic dermatitis, hand dermatitis, and asteatoic eczema. It may be effective in many other disorders, but its role in these disorders remains to be clarified by additional studies.Anté cé dents: Le pimé crolimus est indiqué dans le traitement des dermatites atopiques et a é té é valué dans le traitement de nombreuses autres affections.Objectif: Passer en revue l'efficacité du pimé crolimus dans le traitement des conditions autres que la dermatite atopique.Mé thode: Nous avons effectué une recherche au moyen de PubMed dans les publications de langue anglaise en utilisant le terme clé pimé crolimus. Nous avons passé en revue des articles qui mentionnent l'usage de pimé crolimus dans le traitement de conditions outre les dermatites atopiques, et les avons classé s par type d'é tudes utilisé es pour en é valuer l'efficacité .Ré sultats: Les é tudes randomisé es à double insu ont montré que le pimé crolimus é tait plus efficace que le vé hicule dans le traitement de la dermatite sé borrhé ique, de la dermatite sur les mains, et de l'eczé ma asté atotique, mais que les ré sultats é taient contradictoires dans les cas du psoriasis intertrigineux et de vitiligo. Les é tudes ouvertes regroupant quatre patients ou plus ont montré des ré sultats favorables dans le traitement de plusieurs conditions, notamment les dermatites de contact, la rosacé e, le lichen sclé reux, et le lichen plan buccal et gé nital. Les rapports de cas ont montré que le pimé crolimus topique pourrait ê tre utile dans les cas de rejet de greffe cutané e, de lichen striatus, de lichen plan cutané , et de nombreuses autres maladies.Conclusion: Le pimé crolimus topique semble un traitement efficace contre de nombreuses conditions en plus de la dermatite atopique, surtout la dermatite sé borrhé ique, la dermatite sur les mai...

Diagnosis and Treatment of Ocular Chronic Graft-Versus-Host Disease: Report From the German–Austrian–Swiss Consensus Conference on Clinical Practice in Chronic GVHD

“…As mentioned above, topical anti-inflammatory therapy with calcineurin inhibitors as cyclosporine, tacrolimus, or pimecrolimus can reduce inflammation of the lids and lid margin in blepharitis patients. 8,15,[33][34][35][36][37] Systemic treatment with low-dose oral tetracycline/doxycycline for at least 3-6 weeks or a longer regimen is often beneficial for blepharitis (reduction of inflammation, improvement of meibomian gland secretion, and improvement of tear film lipid layer) as it has been shown for rosacea patients. 38 Providing sufficient (environmental) humidity and moisture chamber goggles is effective as a supportive measure.…”

“…Cyclosporine eye drops and other calcineurin inhibitors such as pimecrolimus and tacrolimus are effective in the treatment of blepharitis, 8,15,[33][34][35][36][37] which also frequently occurs in patients with cGVHD.…”

Diagnosis of Atopic Dermatitis: Mimics, Overlaps, and Complications

“…When triggers cannot be identified/avoided or there is residual dermatitis after triggers have been removed, TCS [25,26] or TCIs [27,28,29] may reduce inflammation; however, chronic use of TCS should be avoided, especially on the face and diaper area. Long term and frequent (greater than once daily) application of TCS (especially higher potency preparations) is contraindicated, due to an increased risk of skin barrier compromise and systemic exposure.…”

Lichen striatus and blaschkitis: reappraisal of the concept of blaschkolinear dermatoses

“…LS mostly occurs sporadically, but there are single reports on simultaneous occurrences in related and unrelated siblings. [24][25][26] Topical glucocorticoids are also used successfully. 18 The origin of LS is unclear; one case reports the occurrence of LS after immunization against measles, mumps and rubella, while another case was reported following varicella infection.…”