Kelekci, Handan KiymetUncu, Hikmet GulsenYilmaz, BulentOzdemir, OrcunSut, NecdetKelekci, Sefa2024-06-122024-06-1220080954-66341471-1753https://doi.org/10.1080/09546630801955341https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14551/22119Background: Pruritus vulvae may have a variety of causes, such as infections, dermatologic disorders or non-neoplastic/neoplastic vulvar diseases. Objectives: To investigate the efficacy and side effects of topical pimecrolimus 1% cream for pruritus vulvae. Methods: Twelve postmenopausal diabetic women with vulvar lichen simplex chronicus were enrolled in this trial. Each patient was treated with pimecrolimus 1% cream which was applied twice daily in a thin layer to the vulvae for 3 months. Clinical examination and recording of patients' symptoms using a scoring system was performed by the same physician before, after 4 weeks and after 3 months of therapy. Results: All of the patients completed the study. A substantial decrease in pruritus after treatment was reported by the patients at the 4th week (2.17 +/- 0.72, p < 0.01) and 3rd month of treatment (0.42 +/- 0.92, p < 0.001) when compared with the baseline score (3.75 +/- 0.45). Follow-up of the patients after 3 months of treatment showed that complete cure occurred in 10 patients (83.3%) and the pruritus was improved in two (16.7%) patients. Conclusions: Pimecrolimus 1% cream seems to be an effective and safe treatment modality for pruritus in postmenopausal women with vulvar lichen simplex chronicus.en10.1080/09546630801955341info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccessLichen Simplex ChronicusPimecrolimus 1% CreamPostmenopausalVulvar PruritusEpidermal Langerhans CellsAtopic-DermatitisTopical PimecrolimusTacrolimusCorticosteroidsEfficacySkinArticle195274278Q3WOS:0002588991000042-s2.0-5104910526719160532Q1