부산대학교 도서관

Background: Pruritis caused by atopic dermatitis (AD) is not always well controlled by topical corticosteroid therapy, but use of tacrolimus often helps to soothe such intractable pruritis in clinical settings. Objective: To determine the anti-pruritic efficacy of topical tacrolimus in treating AD in induction and maintenance therapy. Methods: Prior to the study, patients were randomly allocated into two groups, induction therapy followed by tacrolimus monotherapy maintenance, and induction therapy followed by emollient- only maintenance. In the induction therapy, the patients were allowed to use topical tacrolimus and emollients in addition to a low dose (＜10 g/week) of topical steroids. Patients showing relief from pruritis were allowed to proceed to maintenance therapy. Recurrence of pruritis in maintenance therapy was examined as a major endpoint. Results: Two-thirds of patients (44/68; 64.7%) showed relief from pruritis after induction therapy. Pruritis recurred in 23.8% (5/21) of the tacrolimus monotherapy group and in 100% (21/21) of the emollient group during maintenance period, a difference that was statistically significant. Conclusion: Use of topical tacrolimus is effective in controlling pruritis of AD compared to emollient. (Ann Dermatol 24(2) 144∼150, 2012)