Efficacy and Safety of Tacrolimus versus Pimecrolimus for the Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis in Children: A Network Meta-Analysis.

Objective: Using a network meta-analysis, we aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of tacrolimus and pimecrolimus as treatment options for children with atopic dermatitis (AD).

Methods: Randomized controlled studies with a modified Jadad score >3 using tacrolimus or pimecrolimus in pediatric patients with AD were studied.

Results: Out of 163 articles, 19 studies enrolling a total of 6,413 pediatric patients were selected. Pooled analysis revealed that tacrolimus 0.03% or 0.1% and pimecrolimus 1% were better at reducing eczema compared with vehicles. No significance was found between tacrolimus and pimecrolimus in improving the severity of eczema. More patients tended to withdraw in the vehicle groups compared to the tacrolimus and pimecrolimus groups. No significant difference existed between total adverse events and withdrawals in the tacrolimus and pimecrolimus groups.

Conclusions: Pimecrolimus was similar to tacrolimus in both efficacy and safety for AD in children, but both were better than vehicles.