Therapeutic breakthroughs in medicine are usually accompanied by a wealth of data. Often they result in a change of disease treatment paradigms. Tacrolimus ointment is the first in the new class of steroid-free Topical Immunomodulators (TIMs), and as such represents the first true breakthrough since the introduction of topical steroids more than 50 years ago for the treatment of T-cell mediated inflammatory skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis. This book gives an easy-to-read overview of the discovery and the development of Tacrolimus ointment for the treatment of atopic dermatitis. Summarising the largest clinical trial program ever conducted in dermatology for a new treatment with more than 13000 patients, it offers a detailed insight into the efficacy and safety profile of Tacrolimus ointment. Based on this large body of data and extensive personal experience, the authors offer practical and hands-on guidance for the physician as to when and how to use Tacrolimus ointment in daily practice.

Atopic Dermatitis I.- 1 Epidemiology of Atopic Dermatitis.- 2 The Pathogenesis of the Atopic Eczema/Dermatitis Syndrome.- 3 Detecting, Diagnosing and Grading Atopic Dermatitis.- 4 Current Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis.- Development of Tacrolimus Ointment II.- 5 Development of Tacrolimus Ointment.- 6 Pharmacokinetics of Tacrolimus Ointment: Clinical Relevance.- 7 Tacrolimus as an Immunomodulator.- III Clinical Experience with Tacrolimus Ointment in Atopic Dermatitis.- 8 Clinical Experience in Adults.- 9 Clinical Experience in Children.- 10 The Role of Tacrolimus Ointment in Atopic Dermatitis.- 11 Other Potential Dermatological Indications for Tacrolimus.- IV Social Impact of Atopic Dermatitis.- 12 Quality of Life Measurements in Atopic Dermatitis.- 13 Pharmacoeconomics in Atopic Dermatitis.- Appendix V.