Topical tacrolimus for repigmentation of vitiligo

Grimes, Pearl E. MD
Soriano, Teresa MD
Dytoc, Marlene T. MD, PhD

Los Angeles, California, and Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
From the Vitiligo and Pigmentation Institute of Southern California,^a and the Division of Dermatology, University of California, Los Angeles^b; and the Division of Dermatology and Cutaneous Sciences, University of Alberta.^c

Funding sources: None.

Disclosure: Dr Grimes is currently conducting a clinical trial using Protopic (tacrolimus) for Fujisawa Healthcare.

^*Dr Dytoc received a Frederick Kalz Bursary from the Canadian Dermatology Foundation to study with Dr Grimes.

Reprint requests: Pearl E. Grimes, MD, The Vitiligo and Pigmentation Institute of Southern California, 321 N Larchmont Blvd, Suite 609, Los Angeles, CA 90004. E-mail: [email protected].

Published online September 23, 2002.

0190-9622/2002/$35.00 + 0 16/54/126250

doi:10.1067/mjd.2002.126250

Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 47(5):p 789-791, November 2002.

We describe 6 patients with generalized vitiligo who responded to treatment with tacrolimus ointment. Moderate to excellent repigmentation was achieved in 5 patients. Although the number of cases in this noncontrolled, nonblinded series is small, tacrolimus ointment may be an efficacious and safe treatment option for vitiligo. (J Am Acad Dermatol 2002;47:789-91.)