Vitiligo: calcineurin inhibitors, a steroid or both ?

In the study use of either

• pimecrolimus 1% cream on one lesion twice a day

or

• mometasone furoate 0,1% ointment on a second lesion in the evening

or

• pimecrolimus 5 days a week and 2 days with mometasone furoate on a third lesion

Randomized control study:

• included 50 children aged 2 to 18
• treatment was done for three months and the children were followed until 3 months after the end of the therapy

Results showed a positive trend but which was not significantly different between the three groups. The authors suggest that there is no significant difference between the three groups.

Comment: Many dermatologists use a calcineurin inhibitor once a day and then a steroid to apply at another time of the day. It may have been interesting to include such a treatment scheme.

Source of information. Farajzadeh S. P1424. Efficacy of combination therapy of pimecrolimus 1% cream and mometasone furoate 0,1% cream with either agent alone in the treatment of childhood vitiligo. European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Annual Meeting – Istanbul, Turkey, 2-6 October 2013