Systemic agents for the treatment of atopic dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition with the potential for great social, economic, and psychological morbidity (Hong et al. 2008). A variety of treatment modalities are available for the management of AD, ranging from topical emollients to powerful systemic immunosuppressive agents with potentially serious side effects. Topical therapies include corticosteroid preparations, topical antibiotics, calcineurin inhibitors, and wet wraps followed by emollients or topical corticosteroids. In more severe cases refractory to topical treatment, phototherapy, systemic antibiotics, sedating antihistamines, leukotriene antagonists, systemic corticosteroids, and other immunomodulators may be of value. This chapter reviews the use of systemic immunomodulatory agents for the treatment of AD.