Cataldo Patruno1, Gabriella Fabbrocini2, Giuseppe Longo3, Giuseppe Argenziano4, Silvia Mariel Ferrucci5, Luca Stingeni6, Ketty Peris7, Michela Ortoncelli8, Annamaria Offidani9, Giuseppe Fabrizio Amoruso10, Marina Talamonti11, Giampiero Girolomoni12, Teresa Grieco13, Michela Iannone14, Eustachio Nettis15, Caterina Foti16, Franco Rongioletti17, Monica Corazza18, Michele Delli Veneri3, Maddalena Napolitano19. 1. Department of Health Sciences, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy. 2. Section of Dermatology, Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy. 3. Department of Physics, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy. 4. Dermatology Unit, University of Campania, Naples, Italy. 5. Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy. 6. Dermatology Section, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy. 7. Dermatology, University of the Sacred Heart, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, Rome, Italy. 8. Dermatology Clinic, University of Turin, Turin, Italy. 9. Dermatology Unit, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Polytechnic Marche University, Ancona, Italy. 10. UOC Dermatologia, AO Cosenza, Cosenza, Italy. 11. Dermatology Unit, Policlinico Tor Vergata, Department of Systemic Medicine, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Rome, Italy. 12. Section of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy. 13. Dermatology Unit, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy. 14. Department of Dermatology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy. 15. Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, School and Chair of Allergology and Clinical Immunology, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy. 16. Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy. 17. Unit of Dermatology, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy. 18. Section of Dermatology and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy. 19. Department of Medicine and Health Sciences Vincenzo Tiberio, University of Molise, Via Francesco De Santis, snc., 86100, Campobasso, Italy. maddy.napolitano@gmail.com.
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.
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.