Presentation: Inappropriate amounts of topical tacrolimus applied on Korean patients with eczema ( World Allergy Congress)

Wednesday, 14 October 2015

Hall D1 Foyer (Floor 3) (Coex Convention Center)

Gun-Wook Kim, MD , Department of Dermatology, Pusan National University, Pusan, South Korea

Hyun-Chang Ko, MD , Department of Dermatology, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, South Korea

Byung Soo Kim, MD, PhD , Department of Dermatology, Pusan National University, Pusan, South Korea

Moon-Bum Kim, MD, PhD , Department of Dermatology, Pusan National University, Pusan, South Korea

Margaret Song, MD , Department of Dermatology, Pusan National University, Pusan, South Korea

Background: The limited efficacy of topical tacrolimus may result from insufficient frequency of application or amount applied in eczema patients.

Objective: To investigate the frequency of application and amount of use of topical tacrolimus in patients with various types of eczema.

Methods: The frequency of application and the applied amount of topical tacrolimus were assessed over 2 weeks.

Results: A total of 200 eczema patients completed this study. The average number of applications per day was 1.75 ± 0.53, despite instructions to apply the topical tacrolimus twice daily. With respect to the frequency of application, 147 (73.5%) and 122 (61.0%) of patients followed the prescription in the first and second weeks, respectively. The average amount applied per 2% of total body surface area was 0.54 ± 0.52 g. Only 53 (26.5%) patients applied between 80% and 120% of expected amount of topical tacrolimus.

Limitations: The frequency of application was self-reported, possibly resulting in limited accuracy.

Conclusion: Korean patients with eczema tend to apply topical tacrolimus less frequently and in inappropriate amounts. Clear instructions regarding both the frequency and amount of application are needed to improve the therapeutic outcome with treatment with topical tacrolimus.

1088 Inappropriate amounts of topical tacrolimus applied on Korean patients with eczema