Topical {blacktriangledown}tacrolimus - a role in atopic dermatitis?

doi:10.1136/dtb.2002.401073

Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin 2002;40:73-75; doi:10.1136/dtb.2002.401073

Topical ${blacktriangledown}$ tacrolimus - a role in atopic dermatitis?

Relevant BNF section: 13.5.3

Conventional treatment of atopic dermatitis includes the regular,frequent use of emollients, and intermittent application oftopical corticosteroids to control acute 'flares'. ${blacktriangledown}$ Tacrolimus(pronounced ta-kro-li-mus), which is available for systemicuse for the prevention of organ rejection following allogenicliver and kidney transplantation, is now formulated as an immunosuppressantointment (Protopic - Fujisawa). This is licensed for use inadults and children aged 2 years and over with moderate to severeatopic dermatitis inadequately responsive to conventional therapy.Promotion states that, in these groups, tacrolimus is "at leastas effective as topical steroids" and "without the potentialside effects of conventional therapy". Here we consider theplace of tacrolimus ointment in the management of atopic dermatitis.