Saturday

October 28

SESSION FOUR

2:20 – 2:40

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TOPICAL CALCINEURIN INHIBITORS – WHERE DO WE STAND

Alan B. Fleisher

Topical calcineurin inhibitors have been proven to be one of the most useful classes of agents that we employ in treating a large number of different conditions. Tacrolimus and pimecrolimus have been shown to be safe for short- and long-term use, and do not cause skin atrophy, do not cause increased infections, do not affect immune response, and do not increase the risk of cancer. These drugs are not equal in effect, and two randomized controlled trials show that tacrolimus is more effective than pimecrolimus, but there is room for both agents in our armamentarium due to differences in vehicles. Recently, the FDA, based upon theoretic evidence, imposed “black box” warnings on these two drugs. We will discuss the theoretic basis for this warning, and the chemoprotective affect for cancer that randomized vehicle- and corticosteroid-controlled trials demonstrate. Despite these recent regulatory activities, tacrolimus and pimecrolimus remain important agents to employ for long-term control of significant inflammatory skin disease.

Click here to return to Dermatology Update 2006 Schedule and Abstracts