A double-blind randomized controlled trial assessing the efficacy of topical steroids alone and combined with tacrolimus for the treatment of chronic hand eczema
Keywords:
Clobetasol, Chronic Hand Eczema, Bangla DLQI, HESCI, TacrolimusAbstract
Objective To assess the effectiveness of topical tacrolimus combined with topical super potent steroids to treat Chronic Hand Eczema (CHE). Methods This study had one hundred and twenty patients in total, divided into two groups. Patients in Group A were treated with topical clobetasol 0.05% while Group B received same strength of clobetasol combined with 0.1% tacrolimus. Using Physician Global Assessment (PGA), Dermatology Quality of Life Index (DLQI), and Hand Eczema Severity Index (HECSI), disease severity was evaluated at baseline and then on a monthly basis. Final Assessment done after 6 months. Results In Group A, the female to male ratio was 1.4 compared to 1.8 in Group B. In Groups A and B, the duration of disease was 5.6±2.7 years and 6.1±3.4 years, respectively. The two groups' disease severity at baseline was comparable. Patients in Group B showed better signs and symptoms improvement than those in Group A after 6 months, which was correlated with higher decreases in HESCI, DLQI, and PGA scores, respectively (p value <0.05). Conclusion Our study showed that the treatment of CHE was more effective when topical tacrolimus was combined with super potent steroids.References
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