Work

Safety of Dupilumab and Risk of Cutaneous T‐Cell Lymphoma in Pediatric Patients With Atopic Dermatitis: A Data‐Driven Guide to Counseling Patients and Families

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Recent publications reporting increased cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) risk with dupilumab in atopic dermatitis (AD) have sparked debate, amplified by media coverage linking dupilumab to lymphoma. These concerns have reached pediatric populations, where we observe increasing parental hesitancy about initiating dupilumab for their children. This hesitancy is particularly acute given that dupilumab was only approved for infants aged 6 months and older in 2022-the first cohort now approaching 3-4 years of exposure. Parents understandably question the long-term effects of decades of IL-4/IL-13 blockade initiated during critical immune development periods. The diagnostic overlap between AD and mycosis fungoides (the most common CTCL) complicates assessment. We examine evidence regarding dupilumab safety and CTCL risk specifically in pediatric patients, incorporating recently presented long-term open-label extension data, and provide recommendations for monitoring, distinguishing AD from CTCL, and counseling families navigating this complex topic.

Source: Pediatric Dermatology

DOI: 10.1111/pde.70285

Authors: Maria Gnarra Buethe, Tyler Sy, Lawrence F. Eichenfield

Institutions: Children's Hospital of Orange County, University of California, Irvine, University of California San Diego, Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego

Language: English

Topic: Dermatology and Skin Diseases

Subfield: Dermatology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,920