Real-world clinical experience of dupilumab in the treatment of chronic palmo-plantar eczema in patients with moderate-severe atopic dermatitis: 52-week follow-up

Abstract

Background: Hand-foot eczema (HFE) are special locations of dermatitis, which are often associated with atopic dermatitis (AD) and have a significant negative impact on the quality of life, demanding a clinically relevant improvement. Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of dupilumab in the treatment of eczema localized in hands and/or feet in patients with moderate-to-severe AD. Methods: Retrospective multicenter study of adult patients with HFE treated with dupilumab for their AD. Patients with other concomitantly systemic immunosuppressive treatments did not undergo a washout period. The severity of palmar and/or plantar involvement was assessed using the Physician Global Assessment (PGA) scale on a scale of 0 ( = clear) to 5 ( = very severe). Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) and NRS-pruritus scales were also evaluated. One hundred percent of patients reached week 16, while 67/84 reached week 52 of follow-up. Results: A total of 84 patients were included 86.69% of patients showed a reduction in PGA-Hand, and 80.34% in PGA-Foot at week 52, EASI improvement was reached by 83.55% of patients at week 16 and 87.35% at week 52. Reduction of pruritus (≥4 points in NRS-pruritus scale) was 73.01% at week 16 and 80.67% at week 52. No differences in response to dupilumab were observed in the different subtypes of palmo-plantar dermatitis. Conclusions: The results obtained in our study suggest that dupilumab may be an effective and safe therapeutic option for the treatment of dermatitis localized in hands and/or feet.