Effects of pimecrolimus compared with triamcinolone acetonide cream on skin barrier structure in atopic dermatitis: a randomized, double-blind, right-left arm trial.

Patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) have an epidermal barrier dysfunction, which allows invasion of allergens to occur. Stratum corneum skin barrier is formed by corneocytes and extracellular lipids extruded from the epidermal lamellar bodies. In a controlled, randomized, double-blinded, right-left comparison study we investigated the effect of pimecrolimus (PIM) cream compared with triamcinolone acetonide cream (TA) on the skin barrier in 15 patients with symmetrical elbow lesions of AD.

Development of a physiologically based computational kidney model to describe the renal excretion of hydrophilic agents in rats.

A physiologically based kidney model was developed to analyze the renal excretion and kidney exposure of hydrophilic agents, in particular contrast media, in rats. In order to study the influence of osmolality and viscosity changes, the model mechanistically represents urine concentration by water reabsorption in different segments of kidney tubules and viscosity dependent tubular fluid flow. The model was established using experimental data on the physiological steady state without administration of any contrast media or drugs.

Cost-intensive, time-consuming, problematical? How physicians in private practice experience the care of urticaria patients.

Background: Urticaria is a common and frequently debilitating disease. Nevertheless, there are only few studies examining the situation of urticaria patient care.

Patients And Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we surveyed dermatologists, pediatricians and general practitioners in the practice setting regarding the epidemiology, situation of care as well as the perception of their patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria.

Evaluation of the atrophogenic potential of hydrocortisone 1% cream and pimecrolimus 1% cream in uninvolved forehead skin of patients with atopic dermatitis using optical coherence tomography.

Topical corticosteroids are widely used to treat atopic dermatitis (AD), but their anti-inflammatory mode of action can be accompanied by several unwanted side effects including skin atrophy and telangiectasia. In this 8-week, investigator-blinded, intraindividual right-left comparison study with patients with mild-to-moderate AD, hydrocortisone 1% cream (HCT) was applied twice daily for 4 weeks on one side of forehead skin without clinical signs of AD and pimecrolimus 1% cream (PIM) on the other. Epidermal and dermal thickness were assessed by optical coherence tomography (OCT) and high-frequency ultrasound, respectively.

Differential suppression of epidermal antimicrobial protein expression in atopic dermatitis and in EFAD mice by pimecrolimus compared to corticosteroids.

It has been suggested that the increased rate of bacterial infection in atopic dermatitis (AD) may be caused by reduced antimicrobial protein (AMP) expression. We were interested whether common treatments in AD affect antimicrobial defense. We investigated the effects of topically applied corticosteroids betamethasone valerate (BV) and triamacinolone acetonide (TA) and those of the calcineurin inhibitor pimecrolimus for 3 weeks on AMP expression in AD.

Efficacy and safety of omalizumab in patients with chronic urticaria who exhibit IgE against thyroperoxidase.

Background: A subgroup of patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CU) exhibits IgE antibodies directed against autoantigens, such as thyroperoxidase (TPO). We conducted this study to investigate whether such patients with CU with IgE against TPO benefit from treatment with omalizumab, a humanized anti-IgE mAb licensed for the treatment of severe persistent allergic (IgE-mediated) asthma.

Objectives: We sought to assess the efficacy of omalizumab treatment in patients with CU with IgE autoantibodies against TPO.

Safety of a depigmented, polymerized vaccine for the treatment of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and allergic asthma.

Background: Clinical efficacy of specific immunotherapy (SIT) with depigmented, polymerized allergen extracts is well documented in placebo-controlled trials, and safety data are encouraging although further data are required.

Methods: We enrolled 768 patients (51% men; mean age, 31 years) in this prospective multicenter study on safety and clinical effects of Depigoid (Laboratorios LETI, S.L.

Different effects of pimecrolimus and betamethasone on the skin barrier in patients with atopic dermatitis.

Background: Genetic defects leading to skin barrier dysfunction were recognized as risk factors for atopic dermatitis (AD). It is essential that drugs applied to patients with AD restore the impaired epidermal barrier to prevent sensitization by environmental allergens.

Objectives: We investigated the effect of 2 common treatments, a calcineurin inhibitor and a corticosteroid, on the skin barrier.

Role of the epidermal barrier in atopic dermatitis.

The skin's permeability barrier protects against extensive water loss and prevents the entry into the skin of harmful substances like irritants, allergens and microorganisms. The permeability barrier is mainly located in the stratum corneum and consists of corneocytes and a lipid-enriched intercellular domain. The barrier is formed during epidermal differentiation.

Different effects of pimecrolimus and betamethasone on the skin barrier in patients with atopic dermatitis.

Background: Genetic defects leading to skin barrier dysfunction were recognized as risk factors for atopic dermatitis (AD). It is essential that drugs applied to patients with AD restore the impaired epidermal barrier to prevent sensitization by environmental allergens.

Objectives: We investigated the effect of 2 common treatments, a calcineurin inhibitor and a corticosteroid, on the skin barrier.

Skin physiological parameters confirm the therapeutic efficacy of pimecrolimus cream 1% in patients with mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis.

In this double-blind, within-patient vehicle-controlled study, patients with mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis (AD) were treated for 3 weeks twice daily with pimecrolimus cream 1% on one forearm and with vehicle cream on the other forearm. Efficacy of treatment was assessed clinically using the Atopic Dermatitis Severity Index (ADSI), the Investigators Global Assessment (IGA) and the pruritus visual analogue scale. In parallel, blood microcirculation in the skin was measured as an objective parameter for skin inflammation.

StabiEL: stabilization of skin condition with Elidel--a patients' satisfaction observational study addressing the treatment, with pimecrolimus cream, of atopic dermatitis pretreated with topical corticosteroid.

Background: The objective of this 4-month multicentre observational study was to evaluate safety and efficacy of intermittent long-term treatment of patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) with pimecrolimus cream 1% in the daily practice and to compare it with the preceding topical corticosteroid-based therapy in retrospective.

Patients And Methods: Overall severity of AD and individual symptoms were assessed in 3200 patients by the physician, whereas acceptance of treatment and satisfaction of patients was investigated using a patient questionnaire.

Results: The percentage of patients clear or almost clear of symptoms increased from 12% to 82%.

A randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled study of 1% pimecrolimus cream in adult patients with perioral dermatitis.

Background: Perioral dermatitis (POD) is a common dermatosis without standard therapy.

Objective: We sought to evaluate pimecrolimus cream 1% in POD.

Methods: We conducted a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group study in adult patients with POD treated twice daily with pimecrolimus cream 1% or vehicle until clearance for up to 4 weeks.

Steroid-sparing effect of pimecrolimus cream 1% in children with severe atopic dermatitis.

Objective: To investigate if pimecrolimus cream 1% reduces the need for steroids in the long-term management of severe pediatric atopic dermatitis (AD).

Methods: A total of 184 pediatric patients (aged 2-17 years) with a history of severe AD according to Rajka and Langeland were enrolled. Patients were randomized to treatment with pimecrolimus cream or vehicle cream for a 24-week period.

Safety and efficacy of pimecrolimus cream 1% in the daily practice: results of a patient self-observation study in patients with atopic dermatitis.

Background: Pimecrolimus cream 1% has proven to be well-tolerated and effective in controlled clinical studies in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD). In a 15-week patient self-observation study, safety and efficacy was investigated in the daily practice.

Patients And Methods: 3502 patients with AD (mean age 26.

1% pimecrolimus, 0.005% calcipotriol, and 0.1% betamethasone in the treatment of intertriginous psoriasis: a double-blind, randomized controlled study.

Objective: During the last decades, management of intertriginous psoriasis (IP) has been unsatisfactory because of the adverse effects associated with long-term corticosteroid application and the lack of alternatives. Recently, both pimecrolimus and tacrolimus have been investigated for this indication and shown to be safe and effective. So far, to our knowledge, a comparison of one of these drugs with standard regimens for IP has not been performed.

Treatment of infants with atopic eczema with pimecrolimus cream 1% improves parents' quality of life: a multicenter, randomized trial.

Atopic eczema begins primarily in infancy or early childhood, and sleep loss due to night-time pruritus can have a considerable impact on patients' and parents' quality of life (QoL). In this study, infants (n = 196) with mild to severe atopic eczema were randomized 2:1, double-blind, to receive either pimecrolimus cream 1% (Elidel, Novartis Pharma, Nürnberg, Germany) or the corresponding vehicle bid for 4 wk, followed by a 12 wk, open-label phase and a 4 wk, treatment-free, follow-up period. The parents' QoL was measured at baseline and at the end of the double-blind phase, using the questionnaire 'QoL in Parents of Children with Atopic Dermatitis' (PQoL-AD), thus data presented here refer to the initial 4-wk treatment phase only.

Onset of action of pimecrolimus cream 1% in the treatment of atopic eczema in infants.

Background: Data on the efficacy of pimecrolimus cream 1% within the first days of treatment are scarce, as in previous studies, the first postbaseline assessment was performed only after 1 week.

Objective: We sought to investigate the onset of action of pimecrolimus cream 1% in infants with mild to very severe atopic eczema.

Methods: We used pimecrolimus cream 1% (n = 129) or vehicle cream (n = 66) administered in a double-blind manner for 4 weeks and then open-label pimecrolimus cream 1% for 12 weeks, with a 4-week follow-up period.

An experimental ointment formulation of pimecrolimus is effective in psoriasis without occlusion.

Pimecrolimus (Elidel, SDZ ASM 981), a new macrolactam ascomycin derivative, was highly effective in treating plaque-type psoriasis when applied under Finn-chamber occlusion. A two-centre, randomized, double-blind, vehicle- and positive-controlled within-patient study was therefore conducted in 23 adult psoriasis patients. Pimecrolimus 1% was applied, twice daily, in an experimental ointment formulation, along with the corresponding vehicle, 0.

Effect of oral cyclosporin A in children with Staphylococcus aureus-colonized vs S aureus-infected severe atopic dermatitis.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is frequently associated with skin colonization or infection with Staphylococcus aureus strains producing exotoxins. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the effect of oral cyclosporin A (CsA) on disease severity and bacterial counts in colonized and infected patients. Eleven children with severe AD (SCORAD index >50, mean objective SCORAD score >40) were treated for 8 weeks with 2.

Pimecrolimus cream in the long-term management of atopic dermatitis in adults: a six-month study.

Background: Pimecrolimus cream (Elidel, SDZ ASM 981), a non-steroid inhibitor of inflammatory cytokines, is effective in the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD). We assessed whether early treatment of AD signs/symptoms reduces the need for topical corticosteroids.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and safety of pimecrolimus cream 1% in the long-term management of adult AD.