The efficacy and safety of tacrolimus in patients with dermatomyositis/polymyositis: A meta-analysis and systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of tacrolimus for dermatomyositis (DM) and polymyositis (PM) treatment.

METHODS: We searched the Embase, PubMed, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure were used as searching tools from inception up to October 2022. Two authors independently selected studies. The available studies were comprehensively reviewed and investigated.

RESULTS: A total of 9 studies, including 350 patients, were analysed. Pooled results showed a higher overall survival rate in tacrolimus therapy group. Creatine kinase (CK) levels and forced vital capacity (FVC) showed significant improvement after tacrolimus therapy. The incidence of adverse events including infection and renal dysfunction showed no significant differences between the tacrolimus therapy group and conventional therapy group.

CONCLUSION: The results of this meta-analysis indicated that GC therapy in combination with tacrolimus therapy could help improving overall survival rate, pulmonary function and had similar safety outcomes compared to conventional therapy in DM and PM patients.