Comparative efficacy of topical mometasone furoate 0.1% cream vs topical tacrolimus 0.03% ointment in the treatment of atopic dermatitis

Objective: To compare the efficacy of mometasone furoate and tacrolimus in the treatment of atopic dermatitis. Methods: Sixty patients of atopic dermatitis were treated with mometasone furoate 0.1% (n=30) and tacrolimus 0.03% (n=30). Both treatments were applied twice daily for 12 weeks. Patients were followed up monthly. The disease severity assessed by SCORAD index. A 4-point scale was used to measure the level of response to treatment. Results: Before treatment the respective mean SCORAD was 30.57±13.62 and 30.90±17.17 in group A and B and at the end of treatment decreased to 11.87±12.04 and 11.20±13.85, respectively (p 0.05). Percent reduction of severity from baseline to final follow-up was 69.20±23.41 in group A and 74.77±23.30 in group B (p=0.360). At final follow-up 56.7% of group A and 63.3% of group B achieved excellent response, 13.3% of group A and 16.7% of group B achieved good response. Conclusion: We conclude that both treatments, mometasone furoate and tacrolimus, are effective in the treatment of atopic dermatitis.