Frequency and clinical features of disease flares in patients with atopic dermatitis treated with dupilumab
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background Dupilumab, an interleukin 4 (IL-4) receptor α-antagonist approved for the treatment of atopic dermatitis, is considered effective in preventing disease recurrences. However, the incidence and characteristics od atopic dermatitis flares during treatment with dupilumab in a real-life setting have not been described in the literature.Objective This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of disease flares in patients in treatment with dupilumab and to describe the features of flares in our study population.Methods We conducted a retrospective observational study in which we collected demographic and clinical data on adult patients with a diagnosis of severe atopic dermatitis in treatment with dupilumab for a minimum of six months, who reached EASI75 within six months of treatment initiation.Results Ninety-nine patients were enrolled. Recurrences were recorded for 38.4% of patients and 7.1% developed a second recurrence. The EASI at recurrence was always lower than the EASI before treatment initiation. The localization of disease at head and neck before treatment was associated to the same localization of disease at the first recurrence (p = 0.011). The risk of recurrence was associated to the baseline EASI score (p = 0.005). The presence of dupilumab-related conjunctivitis was significantly associated to recurrences (p = 0.02).Conclusions Treatment with dupilumab does not exclude the risk of a relapse, which can be estimated around 50% within a timespan of three years. In the most cases, flares should not be regarded as treatment failures, and can be easily managed with additional treatment.
Authors: Ilaria Trave, Ilaria Salvi, Giorgio Battaglia, Alice Vischi, Aurora Parodi, Emanuele Cozzani
Language: English
Subfield: Dermatology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4409945035