Effectiveness and Safety of Long-Term Dupilumab Treatment in Elderly Patients with Atopic Dermatitis: A Multicenter Real-Life Observational Study.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness and safety of dupilumab in treating elderly patients with atopic dermatitis from baseline to 52 weeks.

METHODS:

A retrospective observational real-life study was conducted in a group of elderly patients with severe atopic dermatitis treated with dupilumab for 52 weeks. Inclusion criteria were: age ≥ 65 years; diagnosis of atopic dermatitis made by an expert dermatologist; Eczema Area and Severity Index ≥ 24; and a contraindication, side effects, or failure to respond to cyclosporine. The primary outcome was the mean percentage reduction in the Eczema Area and Severity Index score from baseline to week 52. Secondary measures included the mean percentage reduction in the Pruritus and Sleep Numerical Rating Scales and the Dermatology Life Quality Index, and the types and rates of adverse events from baseline to week 52.

RESULTS:

One hundred and five patients were eligible for the study. Flexural dermatitis was the most frequent clinical phenotype (63.8%). The coexistence of more than one clinical phenotype was found in 70/105 (66.6%) patients. We observed a reduction in all disease severity scores from baseline to week 52 (p < 0.001). Adverse events were recorded in 30/105 (28.6%) patients, with conjunctivitis and injection-site reaction the most frequent.

CONCLUSIONS:

In this study, dupilumab is an effective and safe treatment for the long-term management of atopic dermatitis in patients aged over 65 years.

• Authors: Cataldo Patruno, Gabriella Fabbrocini, Giuseppe Longo, Giuseppe Argenziano, Silvia Mariel Ferrucci, Luca Stingeni, Ketty Peris, Michela Ortoncelli, Annamaria Offidani, Giuseppe Fabrizio Amoruso, Marina Talamonti, Giampiero Girolomoni, Teresa Grieco, Michela Iannone, Eustachio Nettis, Caterina Foti, Franco Rongioletti, Monica Corazza, Michele Delli Veneri, Maddalena Napolitano, Dupilumab for Atopic Dermatitis of the Elderly (DADE) Study Group
• Journal: American journal of clinical dermatology (Am J Clin Dermatol) Vol. 22 Issue 4 Pg. 581-586 (Jul 2021) ISSN: 1179-1888 [Electronic] New Zealand
• PMID: 33725337 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Observational Study)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
• dupilumab

Topics

• Age Factors
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Conjunctivitis (chemically induced, epidemiology)
• Dermatitis, Atopic (complications, diagnosis, drug therapy, immunology)
• Drug Administration Schedule
• Female
• Humans
• Injection Site Reaction (epidemiology, etiology)
• Injections, Subcutaneous
• Male
• Pruritus (diagnosis, drug therapy, immunology)
• Quality of Life
• Retrospective Studies
• Severity of Illness Index
• Time Factors
• Treatment Outcome