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