Indications
Mild to moderate atopic dermatitis (AD) in subjects 2 years of age and older
Label: ELIDEL is indicated for short-term and intermittent long-term therapy for mild to moderate atopic dermatitis in non-immunocompromised patients 2 years of age and older, in whom the use of alternative, conventional therapies is deemed inadvisable because of potential risks, inadequate clinical response, or patient intolerance of such therapies. It should not be applied to areas of active cutaneous infections. Patients should minimize or avoid natural or artificial sunlight exposure.
Guidelines for Care of Atopic Dermatitis
- Emollients are a standard of care, steroid-sparing, and useful for both prevention and maintenance therapy”
- Pimecolimus and tacrolimus and has been shown to reduce the extent, severity and symptoms of AD in children and adults
- Information is lacking as to the best way that these drugs can be combined with topical corticosteroids to maximise efficacy, minimize side-effects and reduce costs to the patient
Reference: JAAD 2004;50:391-404 Role of Calcineurin inhibitors
Use of Elidel in other inflammatory diseases
Elidel has been utilized in a small number of patients with:
- Alopecia areata
- Allergic contact dermatitis including poison ivy
- Chronic hand dermatitis
- Cutaneous lupus
- Cutaneous Graft-Versus-Host Disease
- Eyelid dermatitis
- Facial angiofibromas
- Lichen aureus
- Lichen planus (oral)
- Lichen sclerosus
- Psoriasis
- Rosacea
- Seborrheic dermatitis
- Vitiligo
Patient Profile
Atopic Eczema
- This is a chronic condition that varies in severity and fluctuates in intensity
- Onset is in early childhood in most of cases
- Estimates of the current incidence in school-aged children ranges between 7% and 21% in the United States.
- The ideal treatment quickly brings the signs and symptoms of acute eczema under control and maintains the improvement safely for the long term
Long term control of Atopic Eczema
- How to best use topical calcineurin inhibitors ?
There is currently a trend towards the use of topical calcineurin inhibitors as first line treatment. However these types of drugs are officially approved to be used only as second-line agents, when conventional therapies are deemed inadvisable (see section on indications). It is suggested to use these drugs only for short periods of time, not continuously and to use the minimum amount amount needed to control the symptoms.
The use of these drugs in children younger than 2 years of age is not recommended at this time as their effect on the developing immune system is not known.
