Long-term treatment of atopic dermatitis with pimecrolimus cream 1% in infants does not interfere with the development of protective antibodies after vaccination

• Published in: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 2005-02, Vol.52 (2), p.247-253
• Main Authors: Papp, Kim A., Breuer, Kristine, Meurer, Michael, Ortonne, Jean-Paul, Potter, Paul C., de Prost, Yves, Davidson, Miles J., Barbier, Nathalie, Goertz, Hans-Peter, Paul, Carle
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Administration, Cutaneous; Allergic diseases; Antibodies, Bacterial - biosynthesis; Antibodies, Bacterial - blood; Antibodies, Viral - biosynthesis; Antibodies, Viral - blood; Antibody Formation - drug effects; Biological and medical sciences; Clostridium tetani - immunology; Corynebacterium diphtheriae - immunology; Dermatitis, Atopic - drug therapy; Dermatitis, Atopic - immunology; Dermatology; Diphtheria Toxoid - immunology; Double-Blind Method; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Immunopathology; Immunosuppressive Agents - administration & dosage; Immunosuppressive Agents - adverse effects; Immunosuppressive Agents - therapeutic use; Infant; Male; Measles Vaccine - immunology; Measles virus - immunology; Medical sciences; Ointments; Prospective Studies; Rubella Vaccine - immunology; Rubella virus - immunology; Skin allergic diseases. Stinging insect allergies; Tacrolimus - administration & dosage; Tacrolimus - adverse effects; Tacrolimus - analogs & derivatives; Tacrolimus - therapeutic use; Tetanus Toxoid - immunology; Vaccination
• ISSN: 0190-9622; 1097-6787
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2004.08.046

We investigated whether treatment of atopic dermatitis with pimecrolimus cream 1% in infants affects the development of a normal antibody response to vaccinations. In all, 91 patients participated in a 1-year, open-label extension to a 1-year double-blind study: 76 used pimecrolimus twice daily at the first signs or symptoms of the disease until clearance for 2 years and 15 only in the second year. Serum concentrations of antibodies against tetanus, diphtheria, measles, and rubella were measured at months 18 and 24. The seropositivity rates of 93.6% for tetanus, 88.6% for diphtheria, 88.5% for measles, and 84.4% for rubella were comparable with those reported in literature. Seropositivity was not significantly affected by the use of pimecrolimus at the time of vaccinations (± 28 days). Treatment of atopic dermatitis with pimecrolimus cream 1% in early childhood does not appear to interfere with the development of a normal immune response to vaccinations.