Assessment of the adjuvant effect of tacrolimus in the management of pemphigus vulgaris: A randomized controlled trial. (February 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dastgheib, Ladan; Sadati, Maryam Sadat; Baghernejhad, Mohammad
• Is Part Of: Journal of dermatological treatment. Volume 26:Number 1(2015:Feb.)
• Page Start: 90
• Page End: 93
• Publication Date: 2015-02
• Subjects: Skin -- Diseases -- Treatment -- Periodicals; Skin Diseases -- drug therapy -- Periodicals; Skin Diseases -- therapy -- Periodicals; 616.5
• DOI: 10.3109/09546634.2013.873763
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0954-6634

Abstract

<abstract> <title>Abstract</title> <p> <italic>Introduction</italic>: To investigate the therapeutic efficacy of tacrolimus compared with azathioprine in the treatment of pemphigus vulgaris.</p> <p> <italic>Methods</italic>: About 23 patients received prednisolone and azathioprine, and 23 patients prednisolone and tacrolimus for 6 months. Pemphigus activity scores, the time that new bulla formation stopped, the time corticosteroid was tapered, cumulative steroid dosage and medication side effects were analyzed.</p> <p> <italic>Results</italic>: In the control group, the new bulla formation was ceased after a mean ± SD of 11.8 ± 4.7 days, and steroid tapering was done after a mean ± SD of 28.3 ± 5.45 days. Of the 23 patients receiving prednisolone and tacrolimus, the new bulla formation was ceased after a mean ± SD of 12.9 ± 5.26 days, and steroid tapering was done after a mean ± SD of 28.2 ± 5.39 days. About 8.6% of patients did not reach remission in each group. In patients receiving azathioprine, life-threatening side effects were seen in 1 (4.7%), moderate side effects in 2 (9.5%) and mild side effects in 1 (4.7%). In patients receiving tacrolimus, moderate side effect was seen in 1 (5%) and mild in 1 (5%).</p> <p> <italic>Conclusion</italic>: Tacrolimus effects are comparable to azathioprine as pemphigus vulgaris adjuvant treatment, also it has less severe side effects. Trial registration No. IRCT2012073010450N1 available at <ext-link ext-link-type="uri" xlink:href="www.IRCT.ir" xlink:type="simple" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">www.IRCT.ir</ext-link></p> </abstract>