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Published on: February 27, 2018
Topical pimecrolimus 1% for the treatment of pruritic external auditory canals
Hamid R Djalilian1, Omid Memar
1University of Illinois at Chicago and Academic Dermatology and Skin Cancer Institute, Chicago, Illinois, USA. skullbasesurgery@yahoo.com
Objectives/Hypothesis:
To understand the role and efficacy of topical pimecrolimus in the treatment of refractory pruritus of the external auditory canals (EACs).
Study Design:
Retrospective chart review.
Methods:
Thirty-six patients with pruritic EACs who had failed conventional therapy with topical and systemic medications were treated with topical pimecrolimus 1% for a period of 3 months. Baseline and follow-up evaluation of the degree of pruritus among other variables was performed. A control group of 19 patients was instructed on aural toilet alone and was not treated with topical pimecrolimus 1%.
Results:
Of the 36 patients who were treated with topical pimecrolimus for their pruritic EACs, 34 patients had resolution of their symptoms. There was evidence of return of cerumen production in 86% of patients. In the control group, 16% of patients had improvement of their symptoms with aural toilet. This difference was statistically significant (chi, P < .0001).
Conclusions:
Topical pimecrolimus appears to be more efficacious than aural toilet in the treatment of pruritic ears for chronic use without side effects.
