[Long term management of childhood atopic dermatitis with calcineurin inhibitors].

The calcineurin inhibitors pimecrolimus and tacrolimus are important tools for long-term management of atopic dermatitis in childhood. These drugs are approved in Germany for the intermittent long-term treatment of moderate to severe (tacrolimus ointment) or mild to moderate (pimecrolimus cream) atopic dermatitis in children older than 2 years. Recent study results show that these agents are also effective in infants (aged 3-23 months) with atopic dermatitis. During the long-term treatment of children and infants with calcineurin inhibitors, the therapeutic success can be maintained and there is a continuous increase in the response rate. Long-term use of calcineurin inhibitors in atopic dermatitis is well tolerated locally and systemically, leads to reduction of disease flares and has a corticosteroid sparing effect.