tacrolimus and Prurigo

Topics: Administration, Topical; Adrenal Cortex Hormones; Anti-Allergic Agents; Baths; Cholestasis, Intrahepatic; Cyclosporins; Dermatitis, Atopic; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Histamine Antagonists; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents; Pemphigoid Gestationis; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Prurigo; Pruritus; Skin; Tacrolimus

In the treatment of atopic dermatitis, pimecrolimus has high antipruritic effects.. To investigate the efficacy of 1% pimecrolimus cream in comparison to 1% hydrocortisone cream in non-atopic prurigo nodularis (PN).. A randomized, controlled, double-blind study with intraindividual randomization was done in 30 patients (17 females, 13 males; mean age 58.5 years) with PN.. Pruritus intensity decreased significantly (p < 0.001) on both treated sides as early as after 10 days of treatment; scratch lesions improved (p < 0.001). Quality of life as assessed by the Dermatology Life Quality Index improved significantly. However, a significant advantage of pimecrolimus over hydrocortisone was not found.. The results suggest that the non-steroid pimecrolimus is an effective alternative for PN treatment.

Topics: Administration, Cutaneous; Adult; Aged; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Biomarkers; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; Dermatologic Agents; Double-Blind Method; Female; Humans; Hydrocortisone; Male; Middle Aged; Neuropeptides; Prurigo; Pruritus; Quality of Life; Tacrolimus

Topics: Administration, Oral; Adult; Antipruritics; Female; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents; Prurigo; Pruritus; Remission Induction; Tacrolimus; Treatment Outcome

Potent topical corticosteroids are used the intense pruritus in prurigo diseases. Their long-term application leads to local side effects such as atrophy and telangiectasia.. We treated 6 women (average age 64 years) with chronic prurigo with tacrolimus 0.1 % ointment (Protopic) to evaluate its efficacy in this clinical setting. Tacrolimus 0.1% ointment was applied twice a day for 4 weeks.. After one week, both clinical improvement and reduced pruritus were observed in all patients.. Tacrolimus 0.1% ointment represents a therapeutic option for the treatment of prurigo.

Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Administration Schedule; Female; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents; Middle Aged; Ointments; Prurigo; Tacrolimus; Treatment Outcome

Topics: Administration, Topical; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Female; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents; Prurigo; Tacrolimus

Giving the immunosuppressive drug tacrolimus (FK506) to liver transplant patients has helped to considerably reduce oral side effects such as gingival hyperplasia. Patients taking cyclosporin who suffer from gingival hyperplasia are often switched to tacrolimus.. We present here a pediatric liver transplantation case study. The patient has been followed for 5.5 years. She developed oral lesions that resulted in the immunosuppressive therapy being changed from tacrolimus to cyclosporin. In clinical terms, the atypical pathology consisted of hyperpigmented patches on the gingival margin, the internal surfaces of the cheeks, and the intraoral surfaces of the lips. When located on the lips, the hyperpigmented patches were associated with pruriginous and edematous lesions.. Optical and electronic microscopic examinations of a gingival tissue sample revealed the presence of melanin incontinence and lichenoid lesions with degenerated keratinocytes and a mild infiltrate of lymphocytes. This points to a chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGvHD)-like syndrome linked to tacrolimus. This diagnosis was given further credence by improvement in the lesions following the switch to cyclosporin.. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of tacrolimus-associated chronic GvHD-like syndrome occurring in the oral mucosa.

Topics: Chronic Disease; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Gingival Diseases; Graft vs Host Disease; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents; Infant; Lichen Planus, Oral; Liver Transplantation; Melanosis; Prurigo; Tacrolimus