Monthly Dupilumab Effective for Moderate-to-Severe Atopic Dermatitis, Study Suggests

Monthly dupilumab was effective and safe for adults with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD), according to a study involving real clinical practice data published in Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research.

“To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first real-world study to report the clinical efficacy of monthly dupilumab therapy in adult patients with moderate-to-severe AD,” researchers wrote. “Dupilumab is currently recommended to be administered to patients with moderate-to-severe AD subcutaneously at a dose of 300 mg every 2 weeks for maintenance therapy.”

The study included 57 adults with moderate-to-severe AD who received dupilumab every 4 weeks for 16 weeks.

Between baseline and week 16, 84.2% of patients achieved at least a 50% decrease on the Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI-50), and 47.4% achieved at least a 75% decrease (EASI-75), the study showed.

The percentage decrease in EASI score was inversely correlated with blood eosinophil count and serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level at baseline, according to the study. In other words, EASI-75 response was more common in patients with baseline blood eosinophil counts below 500/µL than in patients with higher baseline blood eosinophil counts, and in patients with baseline serum LDH levels below 400 U/L than in patients with baseline serum LDH levels at or above 400 U/L.

“Baseline blood eosinophil count and serum LDH level could be predictive markers for clinical response to dupilumab therapy,” researchers advised.

Reference:
Lee Y, Kim ME, Nahm DH. Real Clinical Practice Data of Monthly Dupilumab Therapy in Adult Patients With Moderate-to-Severe Atopic Dermatitis: Clinical Efficacy and Predictive Markers for a Favorable Clinical Response. Allergy Asthma Immunol Res. 2021;13(5):733-745. doi:10.4168/aair.2021.13.5.733