DrugLib.com — Drug Information Portal

Rx drug information, pharmaceutical research, clinical trials, news, and more



Tacrolimus ointment improves psoriasis in a microplaque assay.

Author(s): Remitz A, Reitamo S, Erkko P, Granlund H, Lauerma AI

Affiliation(s): Department of Dermatology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Meilahdentie 2, 00250 Helsinki, Finland.

Publication date & source: 1999-07, Br J Dermatol., 141(1):103-7.

Publication type: Clinical Trial; Clinical Trial, Phase II; Randomized Controlled Trial

Tacrolimus (FK506) is an effective and well tolerated immunosuppressant used to prevent allograft rejection. We describe the evaluation of two tacrolimus ointment formulations for treatment of chronic plaque-type psoriasis. This was a microplaque assay with randomized, double-blind design. Sixteen patients (15 men, one woman, all white and 28-69 years old) with chronic plaque-type psoriasis participated. Six different ointments were applied to discrete microplaques, 17 mm in diameter, on a descaled psoriasis lesion: these were tacrolimus ointment with diisopropyl adipate as penetration enhancer, tacrolimus ointment without diisopropyl adipate, 0.1% betamethasone 17alpha-valerate ointment, 0.005% calcipotriol ointment and, as controls, the ointment bases for tacrolimus and betamethasone. Ointments were reapplied and the area was sealed every 2-3 days during the 14-day treatment period. After 7 and 14 days, erythema and infiltration were graded on a scale of 0-4, and superficial blood flow was measured with a laser Doppler flowmeter. Epidermal thickness was measured histologically at the end of treatment. Compared with the vehicle controls, sites treated with tacrolimus ointment (with or without penetration enhancer) showed a significant reduction in erythema and infiltration (P < 0. 001), a significant reduction in superficial blood flow (P < 0.01) and a significant decrease in epidermal thickness (P < or = 0.001). Results for betamethasone and calcipotriol, when compared with the vehicle controls, were similar. These results suggest that, under conditions of descaling and occlusion, tacrolimus ointment is effective in the treatment of psoriasis.

Page last updated: 2006-01-31

-- advertisement -- The American Red Cross
 
Home | About Us | Contact Us | Site usage policy | Privacy policy

All Rights reserved - Copyright DrugLib.com, 2006-2017