Tacrolimus 0.1% vs mometasone furoate topical treatment in allergic contact hand eczema: a prospective randomized clinical study

Tacrolimus is a macrolide immunosuppressant that has been demonstrated to inhibit T-lymphocyte activation without the side-effects of corticosteroids. The safety profile of tacrolimus makes it a promising therapeutic option for dermatitis. To evaluate and compare the therapeutic ability of tacrolimus 0.1% ointment and mometasone furoate 0.1% ointment in patients with chronic hand eczema and positive patch tests. Thirty adults with chronic hand eczema and positive patch test reaction to relevant contact allergens were treated with tacrolimus 0.1% ointment or mometasone furoate 0.1% ointment in a single-centre, randomized comparative study. The scores of the evaluated clinical parameters (erythema, infiltration, vesiculation, desquamation, presence of cracks and itching) did not differ between Groups A and B at any of the four time points (p>0.05).On the other hand, in both groups, a significant difference was detected in all parameters between baseline and Day 90 recorded values. Tacrolimus is a promising alternative therapy for contact dermatitis patients as it is effective from the first month of treatment, well tolerated and offers similar therapeutic results to topical corticosteroid therapy.