Cromones in atopic dermatitis

Three new cromones have been studied that are supposed to be better absorbed and to have a wider spectrum of anti-allergic activity than disodium cromoglycate. Pretreatment with i.d. injection of 10 microgram FPL 52758 significantly reduced the weal and flare reaction induced by specific antigen in 11 patients with atopic dermatitis. The weal and flare reaction was not reduced in the same patients when 1.5 mg of FPL 52758 was applied topically under occlusion for a 24-h period prior to challenge with antigen. The itch and slight pain caused by antigen injection was not experienced in the FPL 52758 pretreated areas. Preliminary clinical results were obtained with the cromone FPL 52757, but due to possible hepatotoxicity this trial was not completed. Another similar cromone without hepatotoxicity was used in a double blind within-patient study. Nine patients with mild to moderate atopic dermatitis were treated with FPL 57787 (5%) ointment and matching placebo ointment. No significant improvement was observed after 4 weeks of treatment with the cromone containing ointment.