Pimecrolimus cream 1% vs. betamethasone 17-valerate 0.1% cream in the treatment of seborrhoeic dermatitis. A randomized open-label clinical trial

Rigopoulos, D; Ioannides, D; Kalogeromitros, D; Gregoriou, S; Katsambas, A

dc.contributor.author	Rigopoulos, D	en
dc.contributor.author	Ioannides, D	en
dc.contributor.author	Kalogeromitros, D	en
dc.contributor.author	Gregoriou, S	en
dc.contributor.author	Katsambas, A	en
dc.date.accessioned	2014-03-01T01:54:01Z
dc.date.available	2014-03-01T01:54:01Z
dc.date.issued	2004	en
dc.identifier.issn	0007-0963	en
dc.identifier.uri	https://dspace.lib.ntua.gr/xmlui/handle/123456789/27165
dc.subject	betamethasone 17-valerate	en
dc.subject	pimecrolimus	en
dc.subject	seborrhoeic dermatitis	en
dc.subject.classification	Dermatology	en
dc.subject.other	SKIN	en
dc.title	Pimecrolimus cream 1% vs. betamethasone 17-valerate 0.1% cream in the treatment of seborrhoeic dermatitis. A randomized open-label clinical trial	en
heal.type	journalArticle	en
heal.language	English	en
heal.publicationDate	2004	en
heal.abstract	Background Seborrhoeic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory disease with remissions and exacerbations, characterized by erythema, scaling and pruritus primarily on the face, scalp and chest. Corticosteroids and antifungals are the mainstay of therapy. However, chronic use of corticosteroids is associated with side-effects such as skin atrophy and telangiectasia. Pimecrolimus, an inhibitor of calcineurin, has been used successfully in one patient with seborrhoeic dermatitis. Objectives The objective of this randomized open-label clinical trial was to compare the efficacy and tolerability of pimecrolimus in comparison with a potent corticosteroid (betamethasone 17-valerate) in the treatment of seborrhoeic dermatitis. Methods Twenty patients with seborrhoeic dermatitis were included in this study, 11 patients in the pimecrolimus 1% cream group and nine patients in the betamethasone 17-valerate 0.1% cream group. Patients were instructed to use a thin layer of the study products twice daily at the lesional area and to discontinue treatment as soon as symptoms were absent. Clinical measures assessed were erythema, scaling and pruritus which were evaluated using a four-point scale (0-3). Results Both pimecrolimus and betamethasone were highly effective in the treatment of seborrhoeic dermatitis. Betamethasone reduced all three parameters, erythema, scaling and pruritus, faster than pimecrolimus, but the differences in reduction were not statistically significant. Relapses were observed more frequently and were more severe with betamethasone than with pimecrolimus. Moreover, pruritus was not observed after discontinuation of treatment from day 15 and beyond in the pimecrolimus group, whereas it was reported in most patients of the betamethasone group. This difference was statistically significant. Conclusions It appears that pimecrolimus, a nonsteroidal topical treatment, may be an excellent alternative therapeutic modality for treating seborrhoeic dermatitis.	en
heal.publisher	BLACKWELL PUBLISHING LTD	en
heal.journalName	BRITISH JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY	en
dc.identifier.isi	ISI:000225080600016	en
dc.identifier.volume	151	en
dc.identifier.issue	5	en
dc.identifier.spage	1071	en
dc.identifier.epage	1075	en